The labour force is expected to grow to 1.9 million by 2011, and to facilitate the growing number of women involved at least 40,000 childcare places are needed, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform said yesterday.
Mr O'Donoghue was opening the first on-campus childcare facility at the University of Limerick. It cost more than £600,000, of which £150,000 was provided by Mr O'Donoghue's department.