Figures from Pobal, the agency that oversees Early Years programmes have revealed Galway’s stark shortage of childcare places.
441 babies under one year are waiting, with just eight places available. Among one to two-year-olds, 1,065 children are on lists with only 20 spaces free. For children aged two to three, 872 are waiting for just 132 places.
According to Early Childhood Ireland, Galway parents are left with no choice but to place the names of their unborn children on waiting lists, hoping to secure a place by the time the child turns two or three.
Early Childhood Ireland has warned that without urgent investment in the Early Years workforce in Budget 2026, the shortage will worsen.
“No child should miss out because of failures to invest properly in this vital workforce, yet that’s exactly what’s happening to thousands of children in Galway,” said Frances Byrne, director of policy at Early Childhood Ireland. “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.”
The group is calling on the Government to commit to pay parity for Early Years and School Age Care graduates with primary school teachers, who have the same level of training. It argues that bringing graduates into public pay and conditions would help reverse Galway’s staff turnover rate, which is currently above 25 per cent.
“Providers in Galway will not be able to expand their capacity in settings unless they can recruit and retain qualified staff on appropriate terms and conditions. Naming a date to bring graduates into pay parity with teachers is a crucial next step,” explained Byrne.
According to Early Childhood Ireland’s 2025 Barometer, which gauges public attitudes surrounding the topic of early years and school-age care, 76 per cent of adults support guaranteed access to early years and school-age care. Despite this overwhelming support, the competition for reduced spaces in early years and school-age care facilities in the county is reaching a boiling point.
Local parents often have no option but to put their unborn children on waiting lists in the hope of securing a spot by the time they turn two or three. With as many as 1,065 children aged between one and two already waiting, many families realise that finding a place any earlier is highly unlikely.
“It’s incredibly tough for parents trying to find a place for their child. At the same time, we hear from many of our 249 members in Galway about how they want to expand, they’re ready to grow, but they struggle to recruit and retain qualified educators,” said Byrne.
“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.”
