Mr. Toby Wolfe:

I will respond to the first question on financial supports and so on and I will hand over to Dr. Brooks on the ECCE scheme.

I acknowledge the Deputy's concerns about losing some childminders from the sector. That is clearly something we want to avoid. The incremental and phased approach set out in the plan is intended to keep childminders in the sector and bring them with us on the journey. As part of that, there is a commitment in the action plan to review and reform the financial supports that are available to childminders. A range of supports is already in place. Tax relief is available in certain circumstances for some childminders. The Department has also run some grant schemes. We will be reviewing those.

What the national plan opens up as a significant change in terms of the financial supports for childminders is the possibility of accessing the national childcare scheme. Up to this point, because the scheme requires that a provider is registered with Tusla, the large majority of childminders and the parents who use those childminders have been precluded from accessing the national childcare scheme. The action plan changes that. It will mean that when childminders have done the foundation training and meet the initial requirements for registration, they can register with Tusla and will then be able to enter the national childcare scheme at the earliest opportunity. The parents will be able to avail of subsidies. We think that is a positive incentive for childminders. If we do not do it now, there is a risk that those childminders will lose out over time. Parents may vote with their feet and move away from childminding towards centre-based provision that is in the national childcare scheme. It is essential that the action plan opens up that up to ensure that there is an equal opportunity for childminders to take part in the national childcare scheme. I will hand over to my colleague.