Trying to secure a childcare place for your child can be a very stressful process for working parents.  

With waiting lists seeming to get longer and longer, childcare providers are struggling to cope with the demand.  

Laura Dowling is a mother of two and had to put her second child's name down for childcare when she was just four weeks pregnant. However, she was still unsuccessful at getting a place.

Louise Gillick is manager at St Louise’s Early Childhood Development Service in Dublin's North Inner City and she has had to refuse 17 people as she is fully booked.

Listen and subscribe to Lunchtime Live on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.

You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.