Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A number of issues have been raised in this part of the discussion. Senator Hayden asked questions about child minding. It is true that most parents in Ireland make their own informal arrangements with childminders. They do not go to the more formal sector. There is an international debate about how regulated that should be. Over the last few decades we have taken the decision, for whatever reasons, that if a childminder is looking after fewer than three children, it is a private arrangement and is not subject to a huge amount of regulation. Parents have generally seemed happy with that.

A changing society and the move to more urban living, where parents perhaps do not know neighbours or do not have access to childminders they know, may well mean that this area will increasingly be the focus of a request for regulation. However, that has many implications in terms of resources and inspections. If one asks a childminder who is taking care of one child or two children to notify the authorities, what are they notifying for? Is it for inspection or a more formal registration? It raises many questions. We favoured a more informal approach when the regulations were introduced in 1991.

Of course, childminders were always encouraged. Childminding Ireland, which receives funding of approximately €300,000 from the Department, tried to encourage childminders to link with child care committees and to register. In fact, the registration has not been successful in terms of numbers. It has been very low. However, there are thousands of childminders working with child care committees, going through quality training and getting support for themselves. That has been happening, but there is scope for more of it. Of course, the child care committees work with the childminders. However, whether all childminders in Ireland should be registered is a very big decision and one that would require a degree of discussion. Other countries have taken that direction and it is certainly a possibility, one that is more likely to become a focus as we discuss the quality issues further and as parents seek more information about the quality of care. Parents have always wanted that, but they might feel that the State has more of a role with regard to childminding. Toby Wolfe's organisation Start Strong has made submissions in that regard.

However, the agenda we are discussing here today is very wide. It particularly illustrates the approach that has been taken over the years to this sector. The focus has really been on direct cash payments as opposed to building an affordable, accessible and high quality child care service, which everybody is demanding now. One cannot produce it overnight, but one can certainly begin to deal with the issues we have discussed here today - the importance of inspection, regulation and stronger sanctions, as Deputy Byrne mentioned. That is very important but Deputy Byrne also said there are very good people involved in child care, and it is very important that we make that statement today.

Deputy McLellan talked about the multifaceted response that is required. That has certainly become clear in the discussions over the last few years. The Department has a register of every child care worker, and their qualifications, in the ECCE scheme. That could be extended, and a number of members made that point today. It is something that could be considered, as well as the concept of panels. In Roscommon there has been an attempt to operate a panel system, where workers would be available when there is an urgent need for them. That could be extended as well. There is much work to be done in that area.

We need more inspectors and I am in discussions about the funding for that. It is clear there are some areas where there have been unacceptable levels of non-inspection, so we need more inspectors. We need to fill those vacancies. Undoubtedly, some redeployment will be possible but we must also examine the issue of extra funding for the sector. Clearly, extra funding will be needed for mentoring and developing the programme I discussed earlier.

Deputy Flanagan spoke about parents' choices. The point he made is very relevant in respect of giving parents the maximum opportunity to make choices about being at home or being in the workforce. We all know the economic realities surrounding that. My approach to this has always been to say that the State should give the most generous maternity leave possible, as well as parental leave and paternity leave, to ensure that parents have as much choice as possible, particularly in the early years. That has been the approach in other countries and it is one on which we should continually try to build, whereby parents will have choice in those early years as to whether to stay at home with support or to be in the workplace. Increasingly, however, the reality for many couples is that both will be working and the issue of providing high quality child care will not go away. We must address it and in addressing it we must ensure that the quality issues we have been discussing and which were so starkly illustrated in the "Prime Time" programme are dealt with.

We know the various initiatives that must be taken but they are resource intensive at a time when we are borrowing €1 billion per month. It is a huge challenge but many initiatives are being taken that will make a difference.