Planning changes will force developers to deliver more creches 

The planning laws requiring developers to provide a childcare facility as part of large housing developments is "not delivering as well as it should", said Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman.

The State will be providing €45m in 2023 to extend current creche facilities or build new ones.

Builders will be blocked from starting further phases of housing developments until creche facilities are up and running, under Government plans to expand the number of creche places.

Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman has hit out at the fact that many developers are currently using loopholes to get around State planning laws, meaning creches are either not opening, or in some cases are not even being built as part of large housing developments.