New figures show there was just one inspector per 21,000 children in crèches for the Dublin North East region last year.

According to the Irish Independent, the number of inspectors varied hugely throughout the country, with the west best served with one inspector per 6,000 children.

The figures from the child and family agency Tusla showed there were 42 pre-school inspectors last year and 2,432 inspections, although there are 4,600 facilities.

The information was supplied on foot of a parliamentary question from Independent TD Roisin Shortall.

She believes "political influence" may be behind the wide regional variation.

"Traditionally within the health service, resources are very often allocated on the basis of political pull and muscle," she said.

"I have to ask is this (situation with crèche inspections) a question of political influence."