Ms Marian Quinn:

A major awareness-raising campaign will be needed on the national airwaves and in the national newspapers. Discussions should take place straight away on the benefits of this plan, why it is needed and how it will support and help childminders, children and the families who work with them. Given that it is linked to parents accessing the national childcare scheme, those parents could bring the plan to the attention of childminders who may not have picked up on it or who may believe it does not directly relate to them or that they could not engage with it. However, this needs to happen over time. As we heard, it took five years to put together the plan so we cannot rush its implementation without contacting the childminders and families who are directly involved. The Deputy is right that we will lose them if this is rushed, whether it is participation, qualification or something else.