Parents have been left scrambling for childcare places after they received the news that the Oakview Crèche at TU Dublin Tallaght is to close its doors in January.
The facility caters for around 43-44 children, and primarily serves Technological University Dublin (TU) students and staff. One parent told Gript that they had contacted three nearby crèches, which were already full.
It is understood that no alternative childcare place has been offered to affected parents.
A recent survey by the Irish Independent found that the majority of crèches surveyed throughout Ireland have waiting lists which exceed a year, as parents face increasing competition to secure childcare places.
Of 142 crèches surveyed, 117 had waiting lists of more than 12 months. In 2025, 13,500 children in Dublin were waiting on an Early Years place.
The crèche, which offers early years care for children from under one year to preschool age, sent a letter to parents in which it expressed “deep sadness” at the decision to close the facility from January 2027.
“This is incredibly difficult news to share with our families,” the letter said, adding that the decision followed consideration of “the works required within the service.” According to Oakview, TU Dublin advised that “the funds necessary to complete these works are not available, and as a result, the crèche will close.”
The issue was raised in the Dáil on Thursday, with the House hearing that TU Dublin has confirmed that the operators of Oakview Crèche exercised a break option in their contract in May 2026 and that the current licence expires on 31 December of this year.
It is unclear whether the break notice was withdrawn.
The university has also stated that the continuation of the crèche would require a new procurement process and that this is not currently proposed because the building requires investment, the Dáil heard.
“My child loves the crèche and has progressed so much in his development since he started. This feels like such a let down to him to have to start the process all over again,” one parent affected by the closure told Gript.
The parent said that those with a child at the crèche are feeling “devastated” and “stressed out” after being given just three months’ notice to find new childcare arrangements. She said that the impact of the closure was heightened due to it happening mid-way through the academic year, potentially having a knock-on impact on students’ ability to continue their courses.
“The crèche is mainly for staff members of the college and students who have children, as they are given priority for spaces. Some members of the wider local community were also lucky enough to get a space for their child.
“I think what is particularly frustrating and upsetting is, particularly for a student in full-time education wanting to better themselves and make a good life for themselves and their child, they will no longer be able to keep their child in the facility. There are no spaces anywhere else in the area.”
‘WE GENUINELY WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST WITHOUT IT’
All crèches nearby are completely full, leaving the parents of 43 children impacted scrambling for places, the parent said.
Another parent of a child at the crèche said that his child had been there since she was just eight months old. He took to social media to share: “The staff are absolutely amazing, and it was one of the only crèches in the area that could take her from such a young age.
“We genuinely would have been lost without it, and I know we’re not the only family who feels that way. After everything this service has meant to local parents, this is incredibly disappointing.”
Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy John Lahart said that parents needed certainty, adding: “The first thing we need to agree on is that this facility, regardless of who owns it, remains in place. “
“The Minister of State will agree that when it comes to childcare, parents need certainty. Close to work, on-site, or, as in this case, on-campus childcare is as good as it gets with parents working in close proximity to where their child is minded. Oakview Crèche, based in the grounds of Technological University Dublin, TU Dublin, in Tallaght ticks all the boxes I have just mentioned,” said Mr Lahart.
He said that parents are seeking clarification on what steps were taken between May and September to preserve childcare provision on site.
“Why is no replacement procurement process currently proposed?” asked the Deputy. “What works are actually required and what are they expected to cost? Does continued childcare remain an option for the building? Do historical public funding obligations in relation to this facility – I am particularly referencing Pobal funding – remain relevant?”
Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth, Michael Moynihan, said the Department was aware of the decision to close the service as the university prepares to repurpose the current facility.
“It is acknowledged that this is a deeply stressful time for the parents, children, the staff affected and the local community,” he said.
“South Dublin Childcare Committee is collaborating with the private provider to review alternative premises and to secure a new location for the service. The childcare committee has continued to provide support to the provider with information on the options available.
“However, the Department does not directly operate or manage early learning and childcare or school age childcare services. Decisions about the day-to-day running of services, including their chosen business model or base of operations, ultimately lie with the provider.”
He said that in the event that a suitable alternative location cannot be secured, the Department would work closely with the South Dublin Childcare Committee to assist affected families in identifying alternative options in the area.
TU COMMENTS
In response, TU Dublin pushed back against any suggestion that it was closing the crèche because of standards problems or because of renovation requirements.
TU Dublin sad it will not seek a new childcare operator after December, adding that both contractual extension opportunities have already been used, meaning continuing would require a new procurement process.
TU added that the facility was not operating at full capacity, and that only 12 children using the crèche were connected to TU Dublin staff or students; the rest were from the wider community.
“The University can confirm that Oakview, the licensed operator of the childcare facility on TU Dublin’s Tallaght Campus, will leave at the end of its current licence period in December 2026. TU Dublin does not operate the service or receive childcare income. Oakview operates the creche independently under contract with TU Dublin, which provides only for a nominal licence fee of €10 per annum for use of the property.
“Oakview operates the childcare service under licence from TU Dublin and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the service, including all communications with parents and guardians. The majority of parents at the creche are not students; 12 children using the service were connected to TU Dublin staff or students, with the majority of users coming from the wider community. The service has also not been operating at full capacity.”
“Oakview has been formally aware since 23 October 2025 that the current contract expires on 31 December 2026. The December 2026 end date is therefore not a new date recently imposed on Oakview.
“In May 2026, Oakview notified us of its intention to cease operating the service in September 2026. TU Dublin did not initiate that early termination. We continued to engage with Oakview and, on 29 June 2026, Oakview withdrew its break notice and continued operating under the existing contract to 31 December 2026.
“Following Oakview’s withdrawal of its break notice, TU Dublin separately considered whether childcare provision should continue beyond the already-established contract end date of 31 December 2026. Both available contractual extension opportunities have been exercised. Continuation beyond 31 December 2026 would therefore require a new procurement process. The university will not be seeking a new licensee for the service. TU Dublin recognises the significant impact this announcement will have on the children, families, staff and students affected and appreciates that this will be a difficult and unsettling time for everyone involved. “
“TU Dublin is not unexpectedly closing the creche because of renovations needed to meet standards required by Tusla. Oakview has known since October 2025 that the current contract ends on 31 December 2026, subsequently sought to leave even earlier, and later withdrew that notice and continued to the end of the existing arrangement.
“Tusla had identified elevated room temperatures during an inspection in 2025. Oakview addressed these through portable cooling and operational measures, and Tusla deemed those corrective actions adequate. Oakview subsequently sought a permanent capital air-conditioning solution funded by TU Dublin. The contract did not require TU Dublin to provide or fund such an installation, nor had Tusla required it based on their report. A workable temperature-control solution was therefore already in place.
“There was also a separate winter heating issue. Day-to-day maintenance obligations sat with Oakview, and TU Dublin nevertheless intervened to investigate and resolve the problem. The outdoor safety matters identified by Tusla were also routine maintenance matters for Oakview and were subsequently addressed. A separate surface-water issue was later raised with TU Dublin.
“The decision not to procure a further childcare operator was therefore separate from the operational and Tusla matters outlined above.”