Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)

I will say clearly that childminders are a hugely important part of early learning and care and school-age childcare provision, and they continue to be the option of choice for many families. I am firmly behind the regulation of childminding services, which is critical to the safeguarding of children.

The childminding-specific regulations, which came into effect in September 2024, are designed to be proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which childminders work. Childminders were consulted on and involved in all aspects of the development of the regulations. Both the steering group for the national action plan for childminding and the advisory group on regulation and inspection of childminding included childminders as well as representatives of Childminding Ireland.

The phased, supportive approach to registration put forward in the national action plan for childminding seeks to consult and support childminders throughout the transition, to increase recognition of the important role that childminders play, and to strengthen this vital service. A key objective of the national action plan for childminding is to enable parents who use childminders to benefit from State subsidies through the national childcare scheme.

As a result of the commencement of the relevant parts of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 and the childminding services regulations, childminders are now able to apply to register with Tusla and can therefore take part in the national childcare scheme. Only Tusla-registered providers are eligible to participate in the scheme. The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of quality of provision.

Childminders now have a three-year transition period during which they are able to register with Tusla, but are not yet required to do so. They actually have until September 2027. During the transition period, supports are available for childminders at local level through the city and county childcare committees. Each city and county childcare committee employs a childminding development officer who provides a range of supports to local childminders. Supports available include a short pre-registration training course as well as the childminding development grant. The annual grant scheme provides up to €1,000 to assist both registered and unregistered childminders who are providing a childminding service in their own homes.

See this speech in context