Mr. Toby Wolfe:

That is exactly it. The intention is partly to provide those quality supports and quality assurance for what childminders are doing, but it is also then to allow parents to avail of the subsidies under the national childcare scheme.

As I mentioned earlier, one difference proposed here between the childminding and centre-based provisions that are set out in the primary legislation is the arrangement for a three-year transitional period during which childminders will be able to register but will not be required to so do. That is in line with the phased incremental approach that is proposed in the national action plan.