Five childcare centres have been announced for IDA business parks, the first stage in what the authority describes as an ambitious push to enhance back-up services.

Representing a €7 million private investment, the centres, catering for 450 children, will be at IDA parks in Athlone, Galway, Tullamore, Kilkenny city and Cork city.

Opening the Athlone centre, the Tánaiste Ms Harney said wider childcare access would enhance the Republic's attractiveness to multinational investors and help woo more to the regions.

She said: "Central to IDA's regional development strategy is Ireland's ability to locate highly skilled people and their families to targeted regional locations and in this capacity we need to ensure that quality childcare is available to encourage and facilitate mobility."

The authority plans to introduce childcare to as many of its parks as needed, Ms Harney said.

The creche operators have been selected by a panel of IDA and Department of Justice officials, with external expertise provided by childcare experts. The first five are expected to have opened by September next year.

The Tánaiste said the IDA planned in future to provide quality childcare facilities in all its business parks.