Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The new single affordable childcare scheme will make subsidies payable to services that are quality assured. This is in the best interests of children and families. Tusla provides quality assurance for child care services under the statutory registration and inspection regime.

In advance of introducing the scheme in September 2017, my Department will carry out further work in conjunction with city and county child care committees and national child care organisations. This will ensure that all child care providers who are eligible to participate in the scheme, including both centre-based providers and childminders, are aware of any steps they need to take in order to participate in the scheme.

Childminders who mind three or fewer pre-school children in the childminder's own home are exempt from the child care regulations and thus are not subject to inspection by Tusla. In order to meet the needs of parents whose preference is to use a childminder, and to build capacity to cater for increased demand in future years, my Department has established a working group chaired by Childminding Ireland.

The working group, which includes officials from Tusla, my Department and the city and county child care committees, will make recommendations on reforms for the sector, including proposals relating to quality assurance, whether they be on a voluntary non-statutory basis in the short term or on a mandatory statutory basis in the long term. These will include recommendations relating to childminders who are exempt from registration with Tusla - those minding three or fewer pre-school children or those minding school-age children only. The recommendations received are likely to include proposals to be progressed in the short, medium and long term, including the development of national quality standards for childminders and a proportionate system of quality assurance and regulation.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The working group is expected to report to my Department in May 2017.

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