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

Childminding is an area I intend to look at, but I do not propose to approach it in a piecemeal way. There is significant work to be done in regard to the early years services. I am beginning that work today, in the context of ensuring there is proper registration, inspection, national standards and that people who work in the sector are qualified. This is the first time that this series of initiatives and requirements will be part of legislation. There is huge work to be done to implement what we bring forward at this committee today.

In regard to childminding, there is a question as to what model of inspection will be appropriate. Many countries do not regulate this sector at all, but leave it up to parents. Scotland is an exception in this regard. In many countries, the cultural approach or standard is that parents make their own decisions in regard to childminders and the state does not intervene. I am minded to examine this area, but we must decide on what the right model is. What model of inspection should be applied? Who would visit the childminder and how many times a year? We must be clear what model of regulation, inspection and standards would apply. We would want the best interests of the child at the centre of our model.

I have no argument with what Deputy Ó Caoláin suggests regarding the standards that should apply. That is what parents would want. Certainly, standards will apply to any childminders who come forward for registration. However, there are many issues to be examined but I am not ready to deal with them now because the work has not been done yet. It was not done by previous Governments. There is a huge amount of work to be done before we can bring forward a change to the current situation in regard to childminders. I do not rule out the setting of standards by any means. The issue was addressed by the expert group when examining the early years sector and it made some recommendations. We will have an early years strategy and I will begin an examination of the sector.