Ms Ida Lane:

Roughly, 80 childminders are registered with Tusla. Ms Orbinski Burke might have more information regarding Childminding Ireland, which has many members registered with the city and county childcare committees. We lost our childminding advisers years ago and, therefore, we lost all support. They drifted away, if that makes sense. Suddenly, now, we are trying to get them to come back again and get those people to believe in and trust a system which has let them down and excluded them before. I feel that is where communication must come in, even in respect of childminders registered with county and city childcare committees and Childminding Ireland. They must be involved.

I am a member and we have been excluded. We have not been included in things. We have had a bit of talk and involvement, which is fair enough. When it comes to the draft plan, however, the Childminding Ireland childminders, who have been vetted by the Garda, who have insurance, paediatric first aid and safety training, and who are all very conscious of wanting to be professionals, are not mentioned. We have been excluded. That is not good for building trust. That is my personal opinion.