1,745 children on Meath créche waiting lists

1,745 children under the age of three are currently on crèche waiting lists in Meath according to Pobal, the organisation which administers Early Years programmes.

There are 289 children under the age of 1 on waiting lists with only 3 places currently available, 767 children aged 1 to 2 on waiting lists with 16 places available and 689 children aged 2 to 3 have 176 places available to them.

Early Childcare Ireland said efforts to expand capacity will fall short if there are no significant investments into the Early Years workforce in Budget 2026.

“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 Meath,” said Director of Policy at Early Childhood Ireland, Frances Byrne.

“Waiting lists like these would never be accepted in primary education, yet they remain a daily reality for younger children.”

They have urged the government to name a date to bring pay and conditions for Early Years and School Age Care graduates in line with primary school teachers in Budget 2026. They said these graduates are educated and trained to the same level as primary school teachers and this decision would help to reverse the average turnover rate of over 21% in Meath.

School students are also facing issues in Meath with some parents being told their children were no longer eligible for the bus service to their school. Areas affected by this include Ballivor, Bohermeen Longwood, and Kentstown alongside other bus routes into Navan. Included is the announcement that there will be no bus services service from Kentstown to Colaiste na Mi during this week, affecting up to 70 students with parents only receiving the news last week.