Childcare services to remain open but only for vulnerable groups and children of essential workers The measures will remain in place until at least the end of January. By Órla Ryan Wednesday 6 Jan 2021, 5:35 PM Jan 6th 2021, 4:17 PM 37,791 Views 11 Comments File photo of children at nursery. Image: Shutterstock/Oksana Kuzmina Image: Shutterstock/Oksana Kuzmina Updated Jan 6th 2021, 5:35 PM CHILDCARE SERVICES WILL remain open but only for vulnerable children and the children of essential workers, until at least the end of January, the Taoiseach has confirmed. Cabinet has also agreed that a household of an essential worker, without an existing childcare arrangement, can form a bubble with another household for the purpose of providing childcare.