Childcare costs in Laois soar to €1,500 a month as state owned facilities called for

Families in Laois are paying up to €1,500 a month on childcare as the demand for services continues to intensify. 

Laois TD Brian Stanley has told the Dáil that publicly owned childcare facilities are greatly needed to keep up with Laois' growing population as well as to alleviate the rising costs for families. 

In January, the Government announced that €135 million would be granted to create State-led early learning and childcare services. 

The process of delivering the facilities will begin this year with the acquisition of buildings. The funding will be used to acquire and/or fit out buildings.

There will be eight buildings chosen in 2026. Each of these facilities will provide more than 100 places. The Government said the state-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030 using the €135 million provided in the National Development Plan.

Brian Stanley TD has urged the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley to consider giving Laois one of the first State-led facilities. 

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Addressing the Dáil on Thursday, February 19, Deputy Stanley told the Minister: "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."

The Independent TD said the problem with childcare places exists throughout the county. He explained that there are no all-day spaces in Stradbally or Mountrath and other towns are also experiencing shortages including Portlaoise, Mountmellick, Portarlington, Graiguecullen, Rathdowney, Durrow and Abbeyleix.

Deputy Stanley told the Minister that a couple from Laois had got in touch with him to say that they were offered a place in a crèche which would have cost them €1,430 a month.

"I received a letter this week from one couple, who said they were offered a space for €1,430 per month in one provider. The crèche wanted a €450 deposit within 48 hours, which they were not able to come up with. They lost the place. That shows the pressure on just the market-led ones.

"We need that Government scheme. 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."

Laois County Childcare Committee informed Deputy Stanley that Portlaoise needs four full-day facilities, Portarlington needs one, as does Mountmellick, Mountrath, Graiguecullen, Rathdowney, Abbeyleix, Durrow and the Cullahill area. 

He told the Minister "we could put all eight or nine in Laois", but urged that at least one or two be put in the county for now to keep up with the growing population.

With costs soaring to nearly €1,500 for one child per month, Deputy Stanley said: "The wages in our area do not come up high enough for people to pay that sort of money."

Minister Foley responded to Deputy Stanley, saying that all rural and urban areas where there are a lack of services will be considered.

She said: "I hear the case the Deputy makes for his constituency. There is a capital steering group in place in the Department. The Department is assessing sites and buildings and, where required, will seek expressions of interest from operators to deliver these State-led services.

"The emphasis for 2026 is on the purchase of buildings but we also have provision for some instances where we will build. However, in 2026, the emphasis will be on purchasing or fitting out a building. All areas will be considered. Eight is eight, but we will be hoping to grow that in the coming years."

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme