Laois community childcare facility seeks planning permission for expansion

Suiamhneas Community Childcare in Portlaoise has submitted a planning application

Published 14th Jul 2026, 19:55 BST Suiamhneas Community Childcare based in the Treo Nua Resource Centre. Suiamhneas Community Childcare in Portlaoise has submitted a planning application 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.

A Portlaoise community centre has sought planning permission to extend their existing crèche.

Portlaoise Community & Family Resource Centre has submitted a planning application to Laois County Council to construct an extension to the community centre to expand Suiamhneas Community Childcare based in the Treo Nua Resource Centre.

The planning application also includes the reconstruction of a section of the existing boundary wall, external works, drainage, landscaping and all other associated site development works.

The development would create two additional childcare classrooms in the community centre on Harpur’s Lane.

There are currently 18 staff members at Suiamhneas Community Childcare which caters to almost 100 children.

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The childcare facility opened its doors in 2011 and runs four daily preschool sessions under the Government’s ECCE scheme, a wobbler and toddler room, as well as afterschool services.

According to the planning documents, the land for the proposed development is being made available by Laois County Council in order to “further support the continued development of this important community childcare facility.”

The documents state: “The proposed extension has been designed to support the future expansion of childcare provision within the community and is intended to facilitate an increase in childcare capacity, subject to all statutory approvals and operational requirements.”

Laois County Council are due to make their decision on the application by September 3, 2026.