Over 500 Mayo children and toddlers left waiting for crèche places

As children across Mayo return to Early Years and School Age Care settings this week after the summer break, more than 500 remain on waiting lists for a place — with some families forced to sign up before their child is even born.

Figures released by Pobal, the body that oversees Early Years programmes, show that demand for childcare places in Mayo continues to far outstrip supply. Up to 550 children under the age of three are currently on waiting lists in Mayo, with no spaces available for most of them.

The breakdown of the data paints a stark picture. 39 babies under the age of one are waiting, with no places available. 274 children aged one to two are waiting, again with no places available. 237 children aged two to three are on waiting lists, with just 35 places available.

Frances Byrne, Director of Policy at Early Childhood Ireland, described the situation as unacceptable.

“No child should miss out because of failures to invest properly in this vital workforce, yet that’s exactly what’s happening to hundreds of children in Mayo. 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 its Budget 2026 submission, Early Childhood Ireland has called on the government to commit to bringing pay and conditions for Early Years and School Age Care graduates in line with those of primary school teachers, who are educated to the same level.

The organisation argues that better pay is vital to address Mayo’s staff turnover rate, which currently stands at over 17%.

While the government has focused on reducing fees for families, Early Childhood Ireland warns that this strategy risks fuelling demand without solving the staffing shortage that prevents providers in Mayo from expanding.

“Providers in Mayo will not be able to expand their capacity in settings unless they can recruit and retain qualified staff on appropriate terms and conditions,” Ms Byrne explained. “Naming a date to bring graduates into pay parity with teachers is a crucial next step.”

Public Backing, Private Struggle
The latest Early Childhood Ireland Barometer shows that 76% of the public support guaranteed access to Early Years and School Age Care for every child. Yet in Mayo, parents are faced with years-long waits and the need to put their child’s name down before birth to stand a chance of securing a place.

Ms Byrne concluded that “i’s incredibly tough for parents trying to find a place for their child. At the same time, we hear from many of our 114 members in Mayo about how they want to expand, they’re ready to grow, but they struggle to recruit and retain qualified educators.”

“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.”