New figures show there are just 37 full-time inspectors responsible for monitoring care and education standards in more than 4,700 creches and preschools nationwide.
In fact, the State employs more inspectors for animal welfare than to monitor care regulations in childcare services.
Figures supplied to The IrishTimes show the shortage of inspectors per childcare facility is most acute in Dublin and commuter-belt counties.
Meanwhile, Government officials have confirmed a second free preschool year has been ruled out in the budget.
There had been suggestions a second year could be introduced in the near future, costing the State up to €175 million.
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has suggested diverting savings from cuts to child benefit payment into expanding the free preschool year.
However, it was always unlikely to feature in the forthcoming budget given that officials indicated the soonest such a system could have been in place was within about 18 months.
Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald said over the weekend her focus will be on introducing minimum standards for childcare workers and improving the existing free preschool year and other services.
The personnel figures show that while on average there is one full-time inspector per 127 childcare centres nationally, most parts of the greater Dublin area have either a part-time or single full-time inspector to police hundreds of creches.
There are no inspectors in some areas as a result of the embargo on recruitment to the health services. For example, the Cavan/north Monaghan area does not have any inspector to monitor its 126 creches.
Similarly, there is no inspector in Co Louth (116 creches) or – until last month – in Dublin’s south city area (129 creches). Some childcare facilities have not been examined by officials for four years or more.
The Health Service Executive said where there were vacancies, local managers oversaw "urgent requirements" such as complaints into care standards. In addition, it said there was coverage of some of the regulations by environmental health officers.
Other parts of the country were better staffed. They included Limerick (five inspectors for 247 creches), Galway (five for 306 creches) and Mayo (three for 136 creches).
HSE head of child and family services Gordon Jeyes said yesterday that inspection reports will be available for parents soon, but the inspection process was not the most important issue. He said his focus will be on introducing clearer sanctions over poor standards.
Inspection crucial
Early Childhood Ireland, the main representative group for early-year education, disagreed. "Gordon Jeyes is wrong when he says inspection is not the problem. The inspection regime across the country has serious limitations and now is the time for action," said chief executive Irene Gunning.
