Cuts in childcare benefits for working parents will encourage more women to stop working, according to working mothers lobby group VVM.

A poll of nearly 600 members showed 31% would consider stopping work if the state subsidy on a daycare place is cut to €5. The cabinet is considering cutting childcare subsidies in an effort to save €450m by 2015.
Ministers have already said they will only fund crèche places if parents are actually working. In addition, a majority of MPs want the system changed so parents pay per hour for a crèche place, not a flat daily or weekly rate.
Parliament will discuss changes to childcare funding on Wednesday.