A group representing childcare providers says parents are struggling to find pre-school places for their children.

Early Childhood Ireland, says there aren't enough creche and montessori places to meet the demand for the government's second free pre-school year.

Sixty thousand additional children became eligible for the scheme in last year's budget.

The Irish Examiner reports that twenty two and a half thousand extra spaces will be needed in September, with a further twenty two thousand in January.

CEO of Early Childhood Ireland Teresa Heeney, says childcare providers are facing capacity problems all year round: