Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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31. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps being taken to encourage childminders to register with Tusla further to the implementation of the new single affordable child care scheme, the assistance that is being given to county child care committees to facilitate registration and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39929/16]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Question No. 31 is in the name of Deputy Function who has received the approval of the Ceann Comhairle for it to be taken by Deputy Ó Laoghaire.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Baineann sé seo leis an scéim inacmhainne amháin um chúram leanaí nua. The childminding advisory service, which existed for a number of years, has been decimated in recent years. In that context, what services and supports will be available to provide childminders with the assistance and support they need to register for this new scheme?

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The new single affordable childcare scheme will make subsidies payable to services that are quality assured. This is in the best interests of children and families. Tusla provides quality assurance for child care services under the statutory registration and inspection regime.

In advance of introducing the scheme in September 2017, my Department will carry out further work in conjunction with city and county child care committees and national child care organisations. This will ensure that all child care providers who are eligible to participate in the scheme, including both centre-based providers and childminders, are aware of any steps they need to take in order to participate in the scheme.

Childminders who mind three or fewer pre-school children in the childminder's own home are exempt from the child care regulations and thus are not subject to inspection by Tusla. In order to meet the needs of parents whose preference is to use a childminder, and to build capacity to cater for increased demand in future years, my Department has established a working group chaired by Childminding Ireland.

The working group, which includes officials from Tusla, my Department and the city and county child care committees, will make recommendations on reforms for the sector, including proposals relating to quality assurance, whether they be on a voluntary non-statutory basis in the short term or on a mandatory statutory basis in the long term. These will include recommendations relating to childminders who are exempt from registration with Tusla - those minding three or fewer pre-school children or those minding school-age children only. The recommendations received are likely to include proposals to be progressed in the short, medium and long term, including the development of national quality standards for childminders and a proportionate system of quality assurance and regulation.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The working group is expected to report to my Department in May 2017.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Much of what the Minister has said is welcome. Is it envisaged that those childminders who are exempt from Tusla inspection would be entitled to be part of the single affordable childcare scheme? To some extent, the question related to support and advocacy offered by the childminding advisory service and the link between the county child care committees and childminders. Many childminders operate on an informal level and many individuals, largely women, might be fearful about any registration process and fear that they might be penalised for working outside the tax system for a number of years. This needs to be handled sensibly and carefully to bring as many people as possible into a quality, child-centred service. That link, service and support will be essential so I ask the Minister to consider either advancing or re-establishing something along the lines of the childminding advisory service.

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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That is a very helpful suggestion that I will certainly consider in respect of the Deputy's last point. My Department and I, along with the county and city child care committees, are very keen to provide support, particularly to childminders, because we are aware that for many parents, this is their preference for the minding of their children and they hope and wish that they could have access to the child care scheme that will be rolled out.

There are 219 registered childminders who will be eligible to participate in the single affordable childcare scheme announced in the recent budget. Since the announcement, two more childminders have joined and are in the process of registering with Tusla. Clearly, we have concerns about the lower numbers here. We are aware that the current eligibility criteria rule out a high percentage of childminders who are minding fewer than four children and a lot of work is ongoing in that regard.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Ó Laoghaire has an opportunity for a supplementary.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I confused myself with the Standing Orders and did not think I would get in again. That latter point is vitally important because it is essential that this be a very central part of the single affordable childcare scheme and child care more generally because for many parents who do shift work, childminders will be essential. It offers these parents the flexibility they require. Is it possible for the Minister to give a timeline for when she expects this working group led by Childminding Ireland to produce its report containing these short, medium and long-term recommendations?

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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It might be helpful to identify some of the issues that have been uncovered relating to the meetings of the working group that have taken place. The low level of registration is often explained by the fact that most childminders mind fewer than four children and that registration and compliance with the regulations are perceived by the sector to be very complicated. There is definitely a need to simplify the regulatory standards so that they are proportionate and fit the model of care that childminders offer, including providing a home-away-from-home environment for children. The current regulations are more relevant to centre-based centres and disproportionate in respect of childminding services, although current practice is to consider this during the inspections.

It appears evident, however, that the sector needs its own separate fit-for-purpose regulations and this is emerging in the context of the discussions. The next meeting is scheduled for 20 December and I expect to receive a report from them in May 2017.