Over 46,000 children waiting for early years childcare places nationwide

Published: Tuesday, September 01, 2026

The National Women’s Council (NWC) has said government must intervene urgently to provide early years education and care to 46,241 children under 3 on waiting lists for childcare around the country. NWC reiterates our long-standing call for public childcare and calls on government to act immediately to begin paying educator wages in order to bring fees for parents down. 

NWC Executive Director Corrinne Hasson said: 

“These figures really underline how significant this problem has become for parents, and for women in particular. It is simply not acceptable anymore that women have to take unpaid time off work, leave their careers altogether, or cut back on their participation in education, the arts and sports, because they cannot find childcare. In many countries, public childcare that is accessible and affordable is the norm. What is stopping us from having the same?” 

Agnieszka Manda is a lone parent living in Kerry with her six year old son. Speaking about the impact a lack of childcare has had on her family and career, she said: 

“I work in hospitality and once I had my son, I had to reduce my work hours to facilitate creche pick up times. This left me in a precarious situation. When I moved job, I took a step down in my career and gave up my position as a supervisor as I couldn’t work the required hours. Now my son is in primary school, and there is a great afterschool facility onsite. But school breaks and summer holidays are impossible. I cannot afford to pay a babysitter and have no family nearby to rely on – so since he’s started primary school I send him to my parents in Poland every summer because I have no alternative.”

Ahead of Budget 2027, NWC is calling on government to roll-out publicly-delivered early childhood education and care services in marginalised and underserved communities.  NWC is also calling on government to begin paying wages for educators, as a feasible way to fulfil election promises of childcare costing less than €200 a month. 

Corrinne Hasson said:

"Budget 2027 is a unique opportunity for this Government to make significant inroads in tackling the childcare crisis. But this will only be achieved if the investment is focused on making the systemic changes that we need. Paying educators’ wages has clearly emerged as the most effective way to bring down costs. In addition, we need to prioritise the roll out of State-led childcare in the childcare deserts to ensure all children and families have access to the early education and care that they need.”   

The National Women’s Council (NWC) convenes the Together for Public Alliance for Early Years Education and Care, which is comprised of over 50 organisations. Members of the Alliance today gathered to highlight the large numbers of children on childcare waiting lists, holding a paper doll chain with 46 dolls, each doll representing 46,000 children under 3.