Childcare shortage: State raises concerns over planned closure of Limerick creche
Owner has applied for planning permission to convert facility in Mungret into apartments
The Department of Children has stepped in to oppose the planned closure of a creche in Mungret, Co Limerick, due to concerns over a statewide childcare shortage. The government aims to treat childcare as essential infrastructure, monitoring cases where creches close or are repurposed more actively. The Tiny Friends Creche, which cares for 80 children, is proposed to be converted into five residential apartments as part of a larger five-story apartment development.
The Department of Children will now more proactively intervene in planning decisions that could reduce childcare places, given the existing undersupply of early learning and childcare places in the area. The Ministry of Children's Minister Norma Foley expressed concern over the loss of early learning and childcare places without replacement provisions. Demand for childcare is anticipated to rise with ongoing housing developments in the region.
Written by urgent.news from The Irish Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
