Varadkar: Staff shortages reflect shortcomings in housing and childcare

The Taoiseach said: "People simply won’t take up a job if they can’t find anywhere to live, a creche or a school place for their child."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that more needs to be done to attract people to come and work in the capital which requires “better infrastructure, housing, healthcare, early learning and childcare, all underpinned by co-ordinated planning”.

Labour shortages in Ireland can be seen as a "reflection of real shortcomings" in housing, education and childcare provision, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.

He was speaking at the Dublin Chamber annual general meeting in the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. It comes as data from the CSO shows that employment has hit record highs in the fourth quarter of last year with over 2.5 million people working.