Progress on construction of National Child Development Centre in Kildare

KILDARE-BASED charity, Sensational Kids, has confirmed it recently held a productive meeting with senior Government officials regarding the potential recommencement of construction for the National Child Development Centre in Kildare Town.

Sensational Kids is a non-profit charity and social enterprise that is “committed to transforming the lives of children with additional needs.” The charity provides therapies and assessments for children and adolescents in need, as well as providing training to educators, therapists and parents to better support children’s development with workshops and online learning.

The purpose-built centre, described as a “beacon of hope” for families of children with additional needs, broke ground last year but construction was forced to halt in October 2024, just six months into the build.

The organisation said 2,000 children are currently waiting for the centre to open. Across Ireland, thousands more remain on lengthy public waiting lists for essential services such as speech and language therapy and occupational therapy.

Once completed, the National Child Development Centre is expected to provide life-changing therapies and developmental assessments to 300 children every week. It aims to significantly reduce waiting times for families who often have nowhere else to turn for support.

The charity issued a statement on the good news, and said: “The National Child Development Centre is a crucial resource that would provide comprehensive therapies and developmental assessments for children with additional needs, supporting them to reach their full potential.” 

“Sensational Kids remains fully committed to progressing this much needed project and to ensuring that families across Ireland can access the life changing supports their children deserve.”