How do I find and choose a crèche in Ireland?

Choosing who minds your baby when you go back to work is a big decision, and it tends to land at the exact point where you have the least sleep to think it through. The good news is that Ireland has a proper public system for checking childcare, and most of it is free and online. Here is how to use it.

Where do I find a crèche near me?

There are four good places to start:

• Your City or County Childcare Committee. There are 30 of them around the country. They keep an up-to-date directory of early learning and childcare services in their area, and they can help you apply for the NCS and ECCE schemes. The full list is on gov.ie.
• The NCS Childcare Service Search. The National Childcare Scheme website lists services with an NCS contract, and it shows their fees, which is handy for comparing.
• Tusla's register of early years services. Tusla has more than 4,300 early years services on its register, searchable by county, with separate lists for childminders.
• Your public health nurse. Citizens Information points out that PHNs at your primary care centre are familiar with local childcare services and childminders.

Word of mouth matters too. The Department's own guide to choosing childcare lists a recommendation from someone you trust as one of the things to weigh up.

How do I check a crèche's Tusla inspection report?

All registered early years services are inspected by Tusla, and a report is published after each inspection. You can find reports on the Tusla website, or simply ask the crèche for a copy of its latest one. Tusla also publishes a short guide to reading an inspection report, which is worth a look before your first one.

A service has to be approved by Tusla before it can be registered and start operating. If a crèche you are considering is not on the register, ask why.

When you read a report, look at whether the service was found compliant with the regulations and, if not, what it has done about it. One issue that has been fixed tells you something quite different from the same problem turning up report after report.

Crèche, childminder or preschool: what is the difference?

Citizens Information sets out the main types of childcare for babies and toddlers:

• Full day care is for children attending more than 5 hours a day. Crèches and day nurseries fall in here. Your child gets food, a place to sleep and a safe outdoor space.
• Part-time day care is for more than 3.5 hours and less than 5 hours a day.
• Sessional services run for up to 3.5 hours at a time. This includes playschools, Montessori groups and naíonraí, which run through Irish.
• Childminders look after children in their own home for at least 2 hours a day. They work on their own and set their own terms with parents.

A childminder can care for up to 6 children at a time, including their own children under 10, and no more than 2 of them can be under 15 months unless they are siblings. Which suits you best depends on your baby, the hours you need and what is available near you.

Registration for childminders is changing. Since 30 September 2024, childminders can register with Tusla. Those minding more than 3 preschool children or more than 6 children in total must register now, and it becomes mandatory for all childminders from September 2027. Relatives minding a child do not have to register. The practical point for your budget is that the NCS subsidy only works with a Tusla-registered provider.

What adult to child ratios must a crèche have?

The ratios are set in law by the Early Years Services Regulations 2016. For full or part-time day care, a crèche must have at least:

Age of children	Adults to children	Floor space per child
Under 1 year	1 to 3	3.5 square metres
1 to 2 years	1 to 5	2.8 square metres
2 to 3 years	1 to 6	2.35 square metres
3 to 6 years	1 to 8	2.3 square metres

A crèche must tell parents what its adult to child ratios are, so it is a fair question to ask. On a visit, count the adults in the baby room and see if it adds up.

The regulations also require that staff working with children are qualified and Garda vetted, and that a person trained in first aid for children is available at all times.

What should I ask when I visit a crèche?

Visit when children are there, so you get a real feel for the place. Citizens Information and the Department of Children both recommend it. Tusla's tips for parents suggest listening to the sounds of the children as you walk through, and watching how staff respond to them.

Questions worth having on your phone, drawn from the Department's guide:

• Who will be looking after my child, and is there a high turnover of staff?
• How many children are in my child's age group in the room?
• What does a typical day look like, and how often do the children go outside?
• How will you help my child settle in?
• How will you tell me about my child's day, and about any accident or incident?
• What is your illness and exclusion policy, and your policy on giving medicine?
• Is food made on the premises, and can you see sample menus?
• Who is allowed to collect my child, and what are the late collection charges?
• What is the fee, what does it include and how are holidays like Christmas and mid-term billed?
• Is a deposit needed, and when is it refunded?
• Do you take part in the NCS and other State schemes?

Ask to see the policies too. A crèche must give parents information about the service, including its policies and procedures, and a good one will be happy to talk them through. On food, the Department's nutrition standards advise that children in full day care are offered at least 2 snacks and 2 meals, including one hot meal.

Then trust your first impression. The Department's guide puts it simply: would you be happy to leave your child there?

When should I start looking for a crèche?

There is no official timeline, but it pays to start early. The main dates to plan around are these:

• Maternity leave is 26 weeks, with up to 16 more weeks unpaid if you want them.
• The NCS subsidy can be used from when your baby is 24 weeks old.
• Free preschool under ECCE starts once your child has turned 2 years and 8 months by 31 August.

Baby rooms need one adult for every three babies, so ask each crèche specifically about baby places and whether there is a waiting list. If your child's name goes on a list, the Department advises asking for written confirmation and for the service's procedure for managing the list. If you pay a deposit, get a receipt and be clear whether it is refundable. For ECCE-only places, a deposit cannot be more than 4 weeks of ECCE payments.

What happens once I have chosen a crèche?

Agree a start date and a settling-in period with the crèche. Ask for a copy of the policies and procedures, and share as much as you can about your baby: allergies, medical needs, feeding and sleeping patterns, likes and dislikes. The more the staff know, the easier those first weeks are for everyone.

That last part is where Lullagram can help. It keeps feeds, sleeps and nappies on one timeline for both parents, and makes a simple handover summary for a childminder or grandparent. It is free to try on Android, iPhone and web.

Once you have a place, our guide to what a crèche costs in Ireland walks through the fee caps and how to apply for the NCS.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check if a crèche is registered with Tusla?

Tusla publishes a register of early years services on its website, which you can search by county. All registered services are inspected, and a report is published after each inspection. You can also ask the crèche for a copy of its latest report.

How many babies can one adult mind in a crèche?

In full or part-time day care, the regulations require at least one adult for every 3 babies under 1, one for every 5 children aged 1 to 2, one for every 6 aged 2 to 3 and one for every 8 aged 3 to 6.

Does a childminder have to be registered with Tusla?

A childminder minding more than 3 preschool children or more than 6 children in total must register now, and registration becomes mandatory for all childminders from September 2027. Relatives minding a child do not have to register. You can only use the NCS subsidy with a Tusla-registered childminder.

Who can give me a list of crèches near me?

Your local City or County Childcare Committee keeps a directory of services in your area, and there are 30 of them around the country. The Childcare Service Search on the NCS website and your public health nurse are also good places to start.

What should I get in writing if my child goes on a waiting list?

Ask for written confirmation that your child is on the list and for the service's procedure for managing it. If you pay a deposit, get a receipt and be clear on whether it is refundable.