Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

County Kildare has the lowest rate of community-based childcare facilities, with three in total and only two of those in Kildare North, one of which is Maynooth University Crèche. To give a sense of how long it has been there, I attended it myself. This is in spite of 48% of childcare services having waiting lists in Kildare. I have raised multiple parliamentary questions about this. However, in the programme for Government there is a commitment for capital investment to build or purchase State-owned childcare facilities where demand exceeds supply. It is very clear that Kildare has a huge demand. I ask that consideration is given to prioritise Kildare when it comes to State-led childcare facilities.

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