Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin has said high childcare costs were impeding women's progress in the workplace.

He said the matter would be on the Government’s agenda in the coming term.

“Childcare costs are very high...We want to allow anybody who wants to participate in work to be able to participate in work, and that includes women,” Mr Howlin said.

“There is a significant impediment to some people doing what they want to do in terms of being full participants in the workforce because of either the availability or the cost of childcare.

“And it’s something that’s certainly on our agenda.”