Galway Bay fm newsroom - There are just thirteen in-home childminders registered in Galway.
That's according to figures released by the Child and Family Agency Tusla to The Irish Times.
In-home childminders must register with Tusla if they are minding more than three preschool children.
However, despite this, seven counties nationwide have none at all registered - while Limerick has fourteen, Galway thirteen, and Dublin just nine.
Galway East Deputy and Fianna Fail spokesperson on children, Anne Rabbitte, says the lack of registration makes the sector similar to a 'black market'.
Deputy Rabbitte says the figure is extremely worrying.
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