Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to update the regulation of childcare and childminding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7479/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Work on the development of the early years strategy is under way and the approach I am taking has received Government approval. I want an innovative and dynamic blueprint for the development of Ireland’s early years sector and a coherent approach to seeking to do the very best for children and young people. A broad range of issues is being examined by the early years group. I want to see very high standards in the early years sector, as I am sure the Deputy does, both in terms of care and the curriculum. The issue of quality provision is one with which the group is concerned.

One of the specific issues of policy I have identified for consideration in the preparation of the new strategy is the future role and regulation of the childminding sector, already an important component of early childhood care and education. Pre-school services are subject to the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No.2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under the Child Care Act 1991. Services providing care for children who have not yet commenced primary school are required to notify the pre-school inspectorate. The services covered include full-time, part-time and sessional services, as well as childminders who are taking care of more than three pre-school children from different families in the childminder’s home.

There are a number of ways of supporting childminders. The national guidelines for childminders, compiled by the national childcare co-ordinating committee, are very helpful for childminders who seek support. In 2011 over 1,200 services were notified voluntarily and work to encourage voluntary notification and the active involvement of childminders in training and information activities continues. The take-up represents only a very small proportion of the number of childminders in the country. Therefore, further work is to be done.

The child care regulations set the minimum standards with which services are legally required to comply. The issue of childminding will be examined by the early years group and I look forward to hearing its recommendations. Last year I restored the grant of €1,000 for childminders which had been cut in 2011. It is a question of quality provision by the childminder. The grant was helpful and to enable the childminder to invest in materials, for example, and enhance the activity of children in his or her care. It will be available in 2013 also.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Some 50,000 children are cared for by childminders every day. The Minister alluded to the fact that the vast majority of the childminders are exempt from regulation and operate without any supervision or support. It is unacceptable that most childminders are exempt from inspection, child protection legislation and Garda vetting. Will the Minister commit to amending the Child Care Act 1991 to ensure that all paid childminders will be subject to regulation and inspection? We are still waiting to see in the Oireachtas the Children First legislation, whose heads were published in the middle of last year. Can the Minister give us a commitment that it will include all paid childminders? Could she state definitively when this important Bill will be dealt with in the Oireachtas?

Childminders were not included in the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill, whose heads, incidentally, were published at the same time as those of the Children First legislation. It has passed through the Houses. One wonders why it was prioritised over the Children First Bill. Are childminders to be excluded from the Children First legislation? Will the Minister consider making the regulatory requirements for childminders the equivalent of those for centre-based services while reflecting that most childminders are self-employed?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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It is not correct to state there has been no support for childminders. Clearly, a decision was taken to exempt childminders who are looking after fewer than three children. I take it from the Deputy's question that he and his party support the regulation of childminders and babysitters. Very different views have been expressed on this by parents. Many parents want to make their own decisions on whether they want a particular individual minding their child. There are many different views on the question of State intervention in the decision by parents. It is a question of what is in the best interest of the child. I want to see the best supports possible put in place for childminders.

The question of the type of regulation that is most suitable is one that requires serious consideration. Some countries have opted for very heavy regulation in this area while others have opted for none at all. In Ireland, we have encouraged childminders to register voluntarily. We have given them tax relief on earnings and have set up supports for them in the form of the local child care committees. It is interesting that only 1,200 have registered. This is an area on which we need to focus more to ensure women minding children in their homes feel supported, if they are seeking support, and have expertise available to them. Parents will become increasingly interested in more regulation in this area given some of the recent incidents about which we have heard, although not so much in Ireland. Clearly, this is an area of concern. We must strike a balance in the regulation and this is why I have asked the early-years group to examine the matter. I include Childminding Ireland, with which I have had much contact.

The point raised by the Deputy is certainly one we need to examine. We will need to examine carefully the precise form of regulation and its depth. Many parents have expressed the view that they do not want to see heavy regulation as they believe regulation should be left to parents themselves. We will examine the matter. The early-years group is doing so and I look forward to seeing the recommendations it brings forward. I take it that the Deputy is proposing regulation of the entire sector.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister is trying to put words in my mouth. The type of regulation is key and we need to debate it. When we have a debate, I will make my party's position thereon known. I am not talking about increased State intervention, as the Minister knows, but about the fact that 50,000 children are minded by childminders who are not subject to child protection legislation or Garda vetting. The vetting legislation passed through the House last year and childminders were exempt from it. I asked the Minister quite clearly why this was the case. I asked her whether she will commit to amending the Child Care Act 1991 and to ensuring that childminders will be included in the Children First legislation to guarantee that childminders, be they minding one, two or three children, will be fit to practise, vetted by the Garda and adhere to the highest standards of child protection legislation.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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There is a key question to be considered. As the Deputy stated, it is a question of the type of regulation. Nobody in the country is exempt from reporting under the Children First guidelines. Childminders, given the work they do, have a serious obligation to report concerns in regard to child protection. If a parent has concerns about the childminder, the Children First guidelines clearly apply, irrespective of whether they are on a statutory basis. The Deputy's point begs the question as to whether every childminder in the country should be subject to vetting. This is part of what needs to be examined. The Deputy is proposing that every childminder should be subject to vetting. As I stated, I have asked the early-years group to examine this to determine whether it is the best way forward.

I absolutely agree that the central point concerns the protection of children. To date, families and parents have been making the decision privately as to who should mind their child. The question of the State's role in the vetting of the childminder is one that has not been on the table to date. It has not been examined over the past 12 years. However, I have asked the early-years group to examine the matter and report to me on what it believes appropriate regulation to be. Some argue that light-touch regulation is required because families are making decisions on who should mind their child and they believe the State should not be interfering unduly. This is certainly an area that requires examination. Of course, child protection issues are central and must be so.

It is a case of what type of regulation, if any, should apply. The question of vetting is one for the group to examine. It will revert to me with some recommendations and I will be happy to discuss the issue on the floor of the House when it does so.