How to start a preschool in Ireland

Starting a preschool or "early-years setting" in Ireland is a deeply rewarding venture, offering a chance to significantly contribute to children's development during their most formative years. The regulatory landscape, overseen by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is robust and designed to ensure high standards of care and education. From understanding the specific legal acts and frameworks like Aistear and Siolta, to navigating planning permission and securing appropriate funding, each step requires careful attention. This guide will help aspiring providers in Ireland understand the journey ahead, ensuring compliance with Tusla's requirements and the successful establishment of a nurturing environment for young children.

Regulations

Health safety: A robust Child Safeguarding Statement, including a written risk assessment of harm, is mandatory. Policies must cover a range of health and safety aspects, including infection control, fire safety and evacuation procedures, administration of medication, and a safe sleep policy for services caring for children under 12 months. All policies must be written, implemented, regularly reviewed, and accessible to staff and families. Immunisation policies and illness exclusion criteria are integral to maintaining a healthy environment and must be clearly communicated and adhered to, with incident reporting procedures in place.

Licensing overview: In Ireland, all early years services, including creches, full day care services, sessional services, and school-age childcare services operating for more than two hours daily and catering for over three children, must register with Tusla. The process involves contacting the local Tusla Early Years Inspectorate, preparing comprehensive documentation including premises details and staff qualifications, and undergoing a premises inspection. Once approved, a registration certificate is issued, specifying the permitted number of children and age range. Operating without registration is a criminal offence. The application to registration period typically takes 8 to 12 weeks, though this can vary by county.

Licensing authority: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency

Staff qualifications: The Person in Charge must hold a minimum of a Level 6 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications in Early Childhood Care and Education. All other staff within the setting must possess at least a Level 5 ECCE qualification. From 2026 onwards, services that maintain a graduate-led room (meaning a staff member with a Level 7 or 8 qualification) will be eligible for a higher rate of Core Funding. Staff also undergo Garda vetting (criminal background checks) as part of the safeguarding requirements, and ongoing training in areas such as first aid and child protection is mandatory.

Facility requirements: Premises must meet specific requirements for space, safety, hygiene, and outdoor access as assessed by Tusla. For full-time daycare, space ratios apply: 3.5 sq meters per child aged 0-1 year, 2.8 sq meters for 1-2 years, 2.35 sq meters for 2-3 years, and 2.3 sq meters for 3-6 years. Planning permission from the local authority is often required for new builds, conversions, or significant alterations to existing buildings. This includes considerations for change of use, car parking, safe drop-off, outdoor play space, fire safety certification, and disability access compliance under the Disability Act 2005.

Curriculum requirements: Early years services in Ireland are expected to align with Aistear, the Early Childhood Curriculum Framework, and Síolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education. From 2026, alignment with Nurturing Skills, the workforce development plan, is also anticipated. These frameworks provide guidance on pedagogical approaches, quality standards, and continuous professional development, ensuring a holistic and play-based learning environment for children. IPC (International Primary Curriculum) can align by ensuring its implementation respects and integrates the principles and learning goals outlined in Aistear and Síolta, focusing on child-led learning and holistic development.

Startup costs

Startup costs vary significantly depending on the premises. A smaller, home-based or rented suite operation will be at the lower end, primarily covering equipment, initial insurance, and professional fees. A larger, purpose-built facility catering for 60-100 children will incur much higher costs for fit-out or renovation. Monthly operating costs are predominantly driven by staff wages, which account for a substantial portion of the budget. Insurance premiums also vary based on the size, capacity, and type of premises.

Timeline

1. Needs Analysis and Service Type Decision (2-4 weeks): Conduct a thorough needs analysis by surveying potential customers, assessing existing services and their waiting lists, and researching demographics. Decide on the type of service, such as Full Day Care, Preschool (sessional, Montessori, Naíonraí), or School Age Childcare. This initial step is crucial for defining your business model and identifying a market gap in your chosen area.

2. Determine Legal Status and Write Business Plan (3-6 weeks): Decide whether to operate as a community (not-for-profit) or private (for-profit) service. Develop a comprehensive business plan outlining your business idea, experience, competitive advantages, target users, market research, marketing strategies, staffing requirements, and detailed budget (income and expenditure). This plan is essential for securing funding and guiding your operations.

3. Identify Suitable Premises and Secure Planning Permission (6-12 months (or longer)): Locate premises with appropriate indoor and outdoor facilities that meet Tusla's space requirements. Engage an architect or planning consultant familiar with early years settings to assist with securing planning permission from your local authority, especially if converting a building or undertaking significant alterations. This process is often lengthy and runs in parallel with other steps.

4. Tusla Registration Application (8-12 weeks (after documentation and premises ready)): Contact your local Tusla Early Years Inspectorate to obtain application forms and guidance on local requirements. Prepare all necessary documentation, including details of your premises, evidence of the Person in Charge's qualifications, and draft policies. A Tusla inspector will conduct a premises visit before registration is granted. This waiting period must be factored into your business plan.

5. Staffing and Insurance (Ongoing): Recruit staff who meet the minimum qualification requirements (Level 6 for Person in Charge, Level 5 for other staff) and ensure they undergo Garda vetting. Secure comprehensive insurance coverage, including Public Liability, Employers Liability, Professional Indemnity, and Buildings and Contents Insurance, before any children attend the service. Use a specialist childcare insurance broker.

6. Develop and Implement Policies (4-6 weeks): Draft and finalise all required policies, including a Child Safeguarding Statement, Admissions Policy, Complaints Policy, Health, Welfare and Development of the Child Policy, Behaviour Management Policy, Safe Sleep Policy, Administration of Medication Policy, Infection Control Policy, Fire Safety Policy, GDPR, and Staff Code of Conduct. These policies must be accessible, implemented, and regularly reviewed.

Next steps: explore the IPC curriculum, read about preschool enrollment, or browse all start-a-preschool guides.

Frequently asked questions

Who regulates early years services in Ireland?

Early years services in Ireland are regulated by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. They are responsible for registering, inspecting, and enforcing the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. All services caring for more than three children for over two hours daily must be registered with Tusla before opening. This ensures adherence to national standards for health, safety, and welfare.

What qualifications are required for early years staff in Ireland?

The Person in Charge of an early years service must hold at least a Level 6 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications in Early Childhood Care and Education. All other staff must have a minimum of a Level 5 ECCE qualification. From 2026, a Level 7 or 8 qualification for a graduate-led room can qualify a service for a higher Core Funding rate, demonstrating government emphasis on highly qualified educators.

What funding is available for early years services?

The Irish government provides substantial funding. Key schemes include Core Funding, a primary annual revenue stream based on operating hours and staff qualifications; the ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) scheme, which provides a free preschool year for children aged 2 years 8 months to 5 and a half years; and the NCS (National Childcare Scheme), an income-related subsidy.

Do I need planning permission to open a creche?

Yes, if you are converting a house, building a new facility, or making significant alterations to an existing building, you will almost certainly require planning permission from your local authority. This process is distinct from Tusla registration and addresses aspects like change of use, car parking, outdoor play space, fire safety, and disability access compliance.

What are the adult-to-child ratios in Irish early years settings?

The Childcare Regulations set out minimum adult-to-child ratios. For children aged 0-1 year, it is 1 adult to 3 children. For 1-2.5 years (toddlers), the ratio is 1 adult to 5 children. For preschool-aged children (2.5-6 years), it is 1 adult to 11 children for sessional services and 1 adult to 8 children for full daycare services. These are legal minimums to ensure adequate supervision and care.

What policies are required for a creche in Ireland?

A comprehensive set of policies is mandatory and must be in place before Tusla registration. This includes a Child Safeguarding Statement, Admissions Policy, Complaints Policy, Health, Welfare and Development of the Child Policy, Behaviour Management Policy, Safe Sleep Policy, Administration of Medication Policy, Infection Control Policy, Fire Safety Policy, GDPR and Data Protection Policy, and a Staff Code of Conduct.