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

The Deputy's question centres much on the public consultation. As I said, we will publish the draft action plan relatively soon. I do not have an exact date. It is then that the public consultation process will take place. It will be a full public consultation over the coming months, which will be relatively soon. The responses to that will assist my Department in finalising the action plan to ensure the consultation is comprehensive and reaches as wide a range of stakeholders as possible, including childminders and parents. A range of methods will be used, including an open call for submissions, an online survey, focus groups, including focus groups of childminders, and an open policy debate. As a result of that we will put in place a set of regulations that will form the basis for childminders to sign up and register with Tusla. It is my intention and hope that this will support them to do that. We will also have a number of other short-term supports in place for childminders while that public consultation process is ongoing.

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