An examination of service delivery in early childhood education in Ireland reveals that the lack of a national policy has led to a great variation in services, little possibility for assessing and regulating quality, and a very limited choice for many children and their families. This article describes Ireland's system for early education provision, including a historical summary, and makes suggestions for improvement. It begins with a listing of some facts about the system, such as: (1) most early educational services are provided by voluntary or private organizations; (2) state support is exclusively for disadvantaged children; and (3) there is no state regulation of early childhood services. It then explores the three branches that make up the system--the Department of Education, the Department of Health, and the community/voluntary sector--providing a chronological explanation of their involvement. The article concludes with a description of recent events that hold promise for early childhood education in Ireland (such as the appointment of a junior minister for child care) and a list of general suggestions to improve the system. Contains nine references. (EV)