Over 350 Roscommon children remain on Early Years waiting lists

Latest figures from Pobal, the organisation which administers Early Years programmes, show that 353 children under the age of three in County Roscommon are currently on crèche waiting lists, highlighting the high demand for places.

The data reveals that there are 67 children under the age of one on waiting lists and no places available; 152 children aged one to two on waiting lists and four places available; and 134 children aged two to three on waiting lists and 33 places available to them.

Commenting on these figures, Director of Policy at Early Childhood Ireland, Frances Byrne, said, “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 Roscommon. 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.” This would begin to reverse the average staff turnover rate, which is over 17% in Roscommon, she stated.