Question 1

How does Crechely.ie work?

Accepted Answer

Crechely.ie lets you search every Tusla-registered childcare provider, preschool, Montessori school and afterschool provider in Ireland by location and your child's age. You join their waiting list in one click — no phone calls needed. When a spot opens that matches your child, you receive an instant notification. You then log in, accept the spot, and the provider's contact details are revealed so you can arrange the start date directly.

Question 2

Does Crechely cover afterschool care too?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Crechely lists every Tusla-registered afterschool provider alongside creches and preschools. If you are searching for afterschool care for a school-age child, simply select 'Afterschool' as the service type when searching. You can join afterschool waiting lists the same way as childcare waiting lists — in one click, with instant alerts when a place opens.

Question 3

Are Montessori schools on Crechely?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many Montessori schools in Dublin and across Ireland are registered with Tusla and appear on Crechely. You can filter search results by service type to see only Montessori providers near you.

Question 4

Is it really free to search?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Searching and joining up to 3 waiting lists per child is completely free — no card required. You only pay if you choose to upgrade to Premium (€19.99 once) for access to unlimited waiting lists per child. Accepting a spot is always free.

Question 5

What does Premium give me?

Accepted Answer

Premium (€19.99 once, never expires) lets you join up to unlimited waiting lists per child instead of 3, gives you instant alerts the moment a spot opens (rather than standard notification), priority position in waiting lists, and full access to our AI childcare assistant for questions about NCS, ECCE, and what to look for in a provider.

Question 6

How long will it take to find a spot?

Accepted Answer

This depends entirely on availability in your area and your child's age. Crechely.ie cannot guarantee a timeframe — we can only ensure you are notified the moment a matching spot opens. Joining more waiting lists increases your chances significantly. Premium members with 20 active waiting lists find spots considerably faster than those on 3.

Question 7

Are all providers on Crechely.ie safe and regulated?

Accepted Answer

Every provider listed is verified against the Tusla register — Ireland's Child and Family Agency which regulates and inspects all registered childcare services. You can view any provider's Tusla inspection report directly from their profile. We strongly recommend reading inspection reports and visiting any provider before accepting a spot.

Question 8

What happens when I accept a spot?

Accepted Answer

When a provider offers you a spot, you'll receive an email alert. You have 48 hours to log in and accept or decline. Accepting reveals their phone number and email so you can contact them directly to arrange your start date, contracts, and any NCS paperwork. There is no fee to accept.

Question 9

Can I use Crechely.ie for more than one child?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can add multiple children to your account and manage separate waiting lists for each child. The free tier allows 3 waiting lists per child. Premium allows 20 per child.

Question 10

What is the NCS and am I eligible?

Accepted Answer

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides government subsidies toward registered childcare costs for children aged 6 months to 15 years. There is a universal subsidy available to all families and an income-assessed subsidy for lower-income households. Check your eligibility at ncs.gov.ie. Our AI assistant can also answer NCS questions.

Question 11

What is the ECCE scheme?

Accepted Answer

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme provides free preschool for children aged 2 years 8 months until they start primary school. It runs September to June each year. Your child must attend a Tusla-registered preschool. Crechely.ie shows which providers offer ECCE places.

Question 12

How does Crechely.ie work for providers?

Accepted Answer

You register your service, complete your profile with your Tusla details, age range, fees, and availability. Parents searching in your area can find your service and join your digital waiting list in one click. When you have a spot, you update your availability and every matching parent on your list receives an instant alert. You then manage acceptances and declines through your dashboard.

Question 13

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Your first 60 days are completely free — no card required. After that, it is €29.99 per month. You can cancel at any time with no penalty. There are no setup fees, no per-placement charges to you, and no hidden costs.

Question 14

What happens to my data if I cancel?

Accepted Answer

Your waiting list data is never deleted. If you cancel and later resubscribe, everything is exactly as you left it. Your listing is simply paused while your subscription is inactive — parents cannot find you in search but your account and data are fully preserved.

Question 15

Do I need to be Tusla registered?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Crechely.ie lists only Tusla-registered childcare services. We verify every provider against the Tusla register before activating their profile. This is what gives parents confidence in the platform.

Question 16

What is the waiting list position system?

Accepted Answer

Families are added to your waiting list in the order they apply. Premium parent subscribers receive a slight priority boost. You can see every family's position, their child's age, and their preferred start date. You can change any entry's status — pending, offered, accepted, or declined — from your dashboard.

Question 17

Do parents pay to contact us?

Accepted Answer

No. Parents are never charged to accept a spot or contact your service. Crechely.ie is funded by provider subscriptions (€29.99/month) and the optional parent Premium upgrade (€19.99 once).

Question 18

Can I export my waiting list?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your full waiting list can be exported as a CSV file at any time from your dashboard — including parent names, child details, preferred start dates, and application dates.

Question 19

How do I get more families on my waiting list?

Accepted Answer

Share your Crechely.ie profile link on your own website, social media, and anywhere parents might look. Every parent who visits your profile can join your waiting list in one click. We also show your service to parents searching in your county and age range — the more complete your profile, the more visible you are.