More than 3,900 children under three in Cork are on waiting lists for creche places

Data shows 652 Cork children under the age of one are vying for just 15 places available

Nationally, about 40,000 children remain on a waiting list for a creche place at the end of the summer break. File picture

About 40,000 children in Ireland remain on a waiting list for a creche place at the end of the summer break as, in Cork alone, 652 children under the age of one are vying for just 15 places available.

Early Childhood Ireland, using data from Pobal, said the figures showed significant shortfalls around the country and the Government will be unable to expand capacity unless significant resources are allocated to the early years sector in the upcoming budget.

“No child should miss out because of failures to invest in this vital workforce, yet that’s exactly what’s happening to thousands of children,” its director of policy Frances Byrne said.

Without significant investment in Budget 2026, and a renewed focus on staffing, challenges to recruit and retain educators will continue to block efforts to expand access for families.

In all, it said the Pobal data showed up to 40,000 children under the age of three on a creche waiting list across the country including over 3,900 in Cork.

This includes 6,648 children under the age of one on waiting lists and only 97 places available, 16,849 children aged one to two on waiting lists and 267 places available, and 16,485 children aged two to three on waiting lists and 2,026 places available to them.

In its pre-budget submission, Early Childhood Ireland urged the Government to name a date to bring pay and conditions for early years and school age care graduates in line with primary school teachers.

It has said such a move would be a turning point for the sector in terms of retaining its workforce, with the Pobal data showing average staff turnover rate at 25% nationally, but as high as 54% in some areas.

“None of the Government’s current plans, to reduce fees and increase capacity, will be effective for families unless the Government can offer this vital level of security to staff and settings,” the group said.

“Naming a date for pay parity for early years and school age care graduates during the lifetime of this government, will offer immediate reassurance and allow certainty to staff, providers and families.”

Ms Byrne said current Government initiatives to reduce fees for families, while welcome, would only create further demand for places in a system that is already at capacity.

According to a recent parliamentary question, the Department of Children estimates a total shortfall of about 14,000 places for children under the age of five by 2030.

However, providers in Cork and elsewhere will not be able to expand their capacity unless they can recruit and retain qualified staff on appropriate terms and conditions, Mr Byrne said.

The shortage has led to local parents putting down the names of their unborn children on waiting lists in a bid to secure a place by the time the child is two or three years old.

“At the same time, we hear from many of our 458 members in Cork about how they want to expand, they’re ready to grow, but they struggle to recruit and retain qualified educators,” Ms Byrne added.

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“We can’t expand access for children unless we improve pay and conditions for those who deliver that care and education. You can’t separate the two, and we hope the Government sees that.”