Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)

There will be a review between now and September 2027, which is the transition period. That is really welcome.

I encourage the Minister, if she has an opportunity between now and September 2027, which I would like to think the Minister will, that she might meet with representatives from Childminding Ireland. I was very impressed with them. The organisation obviously represents a huge number of childminders right across the State. The Minister has said we need to get this right. That is why that review is so important. We want to retain childminders. We want to bring more in. It needs to be regulated and nobody disagrees with that. I met a childminder in my own constituency recently. She said she wanted to be down sitting on the floor with the kids and not up at the table doing paperwork. She did not want to be doing administration; she wanted to be down with the kids on the floor. That is very much the essence of childminders. They do it for the love of the children and the care they provide is second to none. For parents, particularly in rural areas, it is so important we get this right. I welcome this review taking place and ask the Minister, if she has the opportunity, to meet Childminding Ireland.

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