Childcare Services
Dail Éireann — 2026-10-01
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John Lahart (FF), Dublin South-West

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this Topical Issue and the Minister of State for being present to take it. The Minister of State will agree that when it comes to childcare, parents need certainty. Close to work, on-site, or, as in this case, on-campus childcare is as good as it gets with parents working in close proximity to where their child is minded. Oakview Crèche, based in the grounds of Technological University Dublin, TU Dublin, in Tallaght ticks all the boxes I have just mentioned.
The first thing we need to agree on is that this facility, regardless of who owns it, remains in place. Deputy Murphy and I have spoken in the Chamber about this particular crèche facility previously. The crèche serves TU Dublin staff on site, the children of some students and families from the wider community. TU Dublin has confirmed that the operators of Oakview Crèche exercised a break option in their contract in May 2026 and that the current licence expires on 31 December of this year. The university has also stated that the continuation of the crèche would require a new procurement process and that this is not currently proposed because the building requires investment.
Parents are seeking clarification on what steps were taken between May and September to preserve childcare provision on site? Why is no replacement procurement process currently proposed? What works are actually required and what are they expected to cost? Does continued childcare remain an option for the building? Do historical public funding obligations in relation to this facility - I am particularly referencing Pobal funding - remain relevant?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-10-01/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:01:00+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-10-01