Fine Gael last night accused the Government of failing to deliver on its targets for the supply of childcare facilities.
The party's childcare spokeswoman, Ms Frances Fizgerald, said the Government was "totally out of touch" with the needs of working parents.
"There isn't a childcare problem in Ireland today. There is a childcare crisis. A crisis of demand over supply and a crisis of delivery of quality, affordable, accessible services," she said.