Where you live can have a direct bearing on the standard of your local crèche, the Irish Independent can reveal.
Pre-school centres in the west of the country are reaching higher standards than in Dublin and Leinster due to better rates of inspection by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
An analysis of inspection reports for recent years indicates big variations in standards around the country, with crèches in some counties enjoying a much cleaner bill of health than others.
It shows the west has generally had a higher level of compliance with childcare regulations than elsewhere.
Limerick in particular emerged as one of the better places in the country for childcare, with almost three-quarters of all crèches inspected by Tusla this year found to be fully compliant.
Read the full story on the Irish Independent website
