Ms Michelle Hart:

In terms of registration for childminders, in Northern Ireland they register with social services but the person at the coalface is a person from a national voluntary association, such as the Northern Ireland Childminding Association, NICMA, which would be the equivalent of our Childminding Ireland. It is a very gentle way, but they are still registered with social services, which would be the equivalent of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. In terms of the leads going forward, because we believe children's learning begins from birth, we believe it should be the responsibility of the Department of Education and Skills.