Childcare Services
Dail Éireann — 2026-02-19
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Brian Stanley (IND), Laois

As outlined, there is a chronic shortage of spaces in the county, including for one- to three-year-olds. We have the private model, but we are over-reliant on that. It has weaknesses in the context of having to have separate leases or ownership of buildings, separate insurance, separate administration and payrolls, etc. While many are providing a good service, there are weaknesses. There are also shortages. There are no all-day spaces in Stradbally or Mountrath, and there are shortages in larger towns like Portlaoise, Mountmellick, Portarlington and Graigue and smaller towns like Rathdowney, Mountrath, Durrow, Abbeyleix and Stradbally. Some of what becomes available is unaffordable. I received a letter this week from one couple who live near to me, who said they were offered a space for €1,430 per month in one provider that is hundreds of yards from my house. The crèche wanted a €450 deposit within 48 hours, which they were not able to come up with. They lost the place, and that woman could not go back to work. That shows the pressure on just the market-led ones. We need that Government scheme. We have the fastest growing population. I know the Minister has announced the purchase of eight or nine buildings. Everyone will be looking for them, but Laois has a strong case.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-02-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:40+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-19