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

Money for the creation of a team of childminding development officers has been allocated under budget 2019. As I understand it, recruitment of childminding development officers is on target. They will be available through the city and county childcare committees. I will revert to the Deputy on numbers. The intention is to have a nationwide system. As we have the city and county childcare committees, that is the way we connect in with our providers. That is an appropriate structure.

In the context of encouraging childminders to register in the short term and to be ready, we are providing additional moneys to support them in proceeding to level 5, if required. There is a fund for that. There are additional smaller funds to support the accommodation in the context of where they offer the childminding service.

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