COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF LUCAN / PALMERSTOWN / NORTH CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

MOTION NO.9

MOTION: Councillor L. O'Toole

Cathaoirleach’s Business

That this committee requests Council planners to gather and provide data on the number of crèches that have closed in the Lucan area over the past 10 years. A previous motion I brought forward resulted in the South Dublin Childcare Committee holding statistics only on newly opened crèches and childcare providers, leaving a significant gap in understanding the full picture. The ongoing closure of childcare providers has placed immense pressure on existing services and created major challenges for parents seeking places. Given the rapid population growth in the area and the frequent concerns raised by parents, it is essential to assess whether Adamstown has provided sufficient childcare places within the SDZ and whether a comprehensive study is being carried out. Without data on closures, we cannot accurately plan for future demand. This motion calls on planners to commit to addressing this issue and incorporating closure statistics into their planning of service provision. Additionally, recent developments, including childcare providers withdrawing from the ECCE scheme due to financial constraints, further highlight the urgent need for proper data and forward planning.

REPORT:

SDCC has sought data from the Childcare Committee regarding the closures of creches in the Lucan area and are liaising with the Childcare Committee to discuss the issue. The Council do not have access to data on the number of childcare facilities that have closed in any area of the County. Early Childhood Care and Education Facilities policy for South Dublin is established in Section 8.9 of the County Development Plan and the policies and objectives for the County are informed by national guidelines. 

COS7 Objective 2 of the County Development Plan states ‘To require provision of appropriate childcare facilities as an essential part of new residential developments in accordance with the provisions of the Childcare Facilities Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2001) or any superseding guidelines, or as required by the Planning Authority. The Guidelines recommend one childcare facility with a minimum of 20 places for each 75 units for new residential developments, with any variation to this standard being justified having regard to factors such as type of residential units, emerging demographic profile and availability of existing childcare services in the vicinity.

It is noted that any justification to reduce provision in a new residential development from the Guidelines is required to have regard to the availability of existing childcare services in the vicinity.

With regards to the childcare provision in Adamstown, COS7 Objective 3 of the Development Plan states 'To require childcare facilities to be provided in new communities in tandem with the delivery of residential development and, where a Local Area Plan or Planning Scheme applies, in accordance with the phasing requirements of that plan / scheme.' 

SDCC will continue to liaise with the landowners to support and ensure the successful delivery of childcare spaces to serve the community of Adamstown in accordance with the permitted Planning Scheme. In total, the Scheme requires a minimum of 600 childcare spaces. To date circa 233 childcare spaces have been provided within the Scheme. 100 childcare spaces have been granted in St Helen’s (under planning Register Reference SDZ23A/0017) and the development is under construction. A planning application was lodged (SDZ24A/0034W) for a residential development and a creche (100 spaces) within the Tandy's Lane Village Development Area. Additional information has been sought by SDCC, relating to the residential element of the application. The provision of the childcare spaces referred to in the planning application are a requirement of Phase 8. Preplanning to date has included discussion regarding childcare provision for phases 9 and 10 with the landowners.