Calls for housing developers to provide childcare facilities in Laois

Some parts of Laois have been described as ‘blackspots’ for childcare

Published 23rd Jun 2026, 18:25 BST File photo. Some parts of Laois have been described as ‘blackspots’ for childcare Sign up to our Laois Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Laois Live within your account.

There have been calls in Laois for all new large-scale housing developments to provide childcare facilities as part of their planning applications.

Councillor Paschal McEvoy called for Laois County Council to recommend that all new large housing estates include the provision of childcare facilities as part of their planning application.

Speaking at the June meeting of the Graiguecullen/Portarlington MD, Cllr McEvoy said that he has been contacted by a number of people regarding the lack of childcare services in the Ballylinan and Ballyadams area.

The Fianna Fáil councillor described these areas as “blackspots” for such services.

The construction of new housing developments is causing an increased demand for childcare facilities, according to Cllr McEvoy who noted the new developments in Ballylinan.

In April, Sammy Kelly Builders were granted planning permission to build 46 houses on a greenfield site off the N78 in Ballylinan.

There is no universal legal obligation on developers to provide childcare facilities in housing estates, as Senior Executive Officer in the Planning Department of Laois County Council, Eamon Cahill, informed the Stradbally councillor.

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However, the 2001 Childcare Facilities Guidelines for Planning Authorities state that for every 75 new homes built, 20 childcare places should be provided. Although there are exemptions to this.

Developers usually submit a Childcare Needs Assessment with a planning application to apply for reduced or no provision of childcare places if nearby facilities exist, the demand is low, or the unit mix suggests fewer children.

Supporting Cllr McEvoy’s motion, Cllr Vivienne Phelan said that such guidelines are “outdated.”

“It’s a huge issue. If we look at the population of this county, there’s a lot of inward migration. We need facilities for these people,” Cllr Phelan told the council.

“A lack of childcare should never be a reason that a parent can’t access the workplace. I certainly know some families where that is the case at the moment.”

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“It’s something we should keep an eye on and it’s happening all over the county where there’s big developments going on and little childcare facilities available,” he said.

“In order for people to keep up with their mortgage repayments, they need childcare. For us as a council, and also nationally, the development of childcare facilities in all of these big developments have to be a priority.”

Related topics: Ballylinan Laois Cllr Paschal McEvoy Cllr Vivienne Phelan Laois County Council Sign up to our Laois Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Laois Live within your account.