‘Families move in, communities grow, and the childcare facility they were promised doesn’t materialise’

Meath County Council has backed a motion calling for a review of how childcare facilities attached to residential developments are delivered, amid concerns that crèches approved through the planning system are too often delayed or never built.

The motion, proposed by Fianna Fáil Cllr Caroline O’Reilly at the February meeting of Meath County Council, seeks a review of current planning and compliance practices, with a particular focus on the increasing reliance on third-party delivery models.

Councillors from across the chamber voiced strong support for the motion, citing local examples where families have moved into new estates without the childcare facilities promised at planning stage.

Introducing the motion, Cllr O’Reilly said that while there has been welcome progress at national level on childcare funding, the issue before the council was one of planning compliance and enforcement.

“At its core, this is about compliance with planning permission,” she told the meeting. “The council grants permission for large-scale residential developments that include childcare facilities. Those permissions must be respected and enforced.”

She said that too often childcare provision is pushed to the later phases of developments, or dropped altogether when delays or changes occur.

“We see a pattern where childcare is left to the very last phase. Families move in, communities grow, and the childcare facility they were promised doesn’t materialise,” she said.

Cllr O’Reilly also warned against over-reliance on third-party operators.

“When delivery is left to third parties or future purchasers without strong conditions attached, the childcare element becomes uncertain and too easily dropped,” she said. “If third-party delivery is being relied upon, there must be clear conditions, timelines and enforceable clauses in place.”

Future

She stressed that the motion was not just about future planning policy.

“This is also about developments that already have planning permission, many of which are already built and occupied, where childcare facilities were approved and should have been delivered,” she said.

Figures issued by Meath County Council following the meeting show the scale of the issue. According to the local authority, at least 36 planning permissions across the county include a requirement for a crèche or childcare facility, either as part of residential developments or as standalone permissions. Of these, the council confirmed that only 13 have commenced, while 23 have yet to commence at all.

However, the council also acknowledged that its systems do not track whether childcare facilities have been completed, opened or are operational, nor do they provide a clear area-by-area breakdown of where outstanding facilities are located. As a result, councillors say it remains difficult to assess how many childcare facilities approved through the planning system have actually been delivered on the ground.

Referencing local examples, Cllr Reilly added: “The Willows in Dunshaughlin and Millerstown in Kilcock are clear examples of why this matters. Families bought homes in good faith and are still waiting years later.”

Supporting the motion, Sinn Fein Cllr Eddie Fennessy highlighted a recent planning application seeking to remove a crèche from a social housing development of almost 100 homes.

Facilities

“That development has lots of families with young children,” the councillor said. “Any move towards protecting these facilities is very welcome and has my full support.”

Sinn Fein Cllr Helen Meyer cautioned against over-reliance on social infrastructure audits prepared by third parties.

“When I was working on Ashewood in Ashbourne an audit said a crèche wasn’t needed,” the councillor said. “But every crèche in the town was full, with long waiting lists, and some had even closed. Local councillors have on-the-ground knowledge, and that needs to be reflected.”

Fine Gael Cllr Maria Murphy pointed to a development where a crèche in Dunboyne was conditioned as part of the first phase but was later pushed into a subsequent phase.

“When the council followed it up, the developer resisted and the issue wasn’t chased,” the councillor said

“Now the development continues without the crèche, putting further strain on existing facilities.”

They also highlighted pressure on ECCE places, noting that childcare shortages were affecting families across multiple age groups.

Responding on behalf of the local authority, a senior council official said any suspected non-compliance with planning conditions should be brought to the council’s attention.

“If there are suspicions of non-compliance in any development, please bring it to us and we will investigate it in the appropriate way,” the official said.

The official confirmed that, in general, the council does condition childcare facilities to be delivered as part of the first phase of residential developments.

Provision

However, they acknowledged historical issues with Strategic Housing Developments (SHDs), which went directly to An Bord Pleanála.

“In some of those cases, early provision of crèches was not included in the conditions set by An Bord Pleanála, and that has potentially created problems,” the official said.

Speaking after the meeting, Cllr O’Reilly said the vote reflected growing recognition that childcare must be treated as essential infrastructure, particularly in fast-growing areas of the county.

“There has been welcome progress at national level, including recent investment announcements such as the €135 million state-led childcare programme,” she said.

“More places and more affordable childcare are positive steps. But this motion is focused on local planning, delivery and enforcement.”

She said families across Meath continue to face long waiting lists despite buying homes in developments where crèches formed part of the original planning permission.

“Too often we see childcare facilities delayed, reduced or not delivered at all,” she said. “That’s not an accident — it’s a result of how delivery is prioritised and enforced.”

Good Faith

Cllr O’Reilly said the council must ensure childcare is delivered alongside housing, not years later.

“Families are buying homes in good faith on the basis that facilities approved through planning will actually be provided,” she said. “That trust has to be respected.”

She added: “This is about supporting working parents and making sure our communities are properly planned and sustainable. I welcome the support from councillors across the county and I look forward to seeing real delivery on the ground.”