Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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9. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of issues childminders are experiencing with the new regulations; if she is concerned that childminders are leaving the role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49910/25]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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I want to ask the Minister about the regulations that came into effect for childminders across the State in September 2024. They have now been in place for a year and there are issues being raised, primarily by Childminding Ireland. Given the severe capacity issues we have within our early years sector and the very high turnover of early years educators, particularly out of private childcare settings, we need now more than ever to retain our childminders and ensure they can work within these new regulations. Is the Minister aware of issues that have been raised?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome and acknowledge the fact childminders can now provide supports of the national childcare scheme and that will perhaps encourage or allow parents the choice rather than choosing a formal childcare setting. This is particularly so in rural areas where childminders would be used a lot, especially where they can provide flexibility that perhaps the formal childcare setting cannot. I have met representatives of Childminding Ireland and there are significant concerns and issues in regard to the regulations. Childminding Ireland's ask has been that, 18 months into the regulations, which is coming up shortly, there would be a review of those regulations. I think that is a reasonable request to make sure the regulations are working and see if there need to be tweaks to ensure childminders are getting on board with them. Childminding Ireland's most recent survey found that more than 30% of childminders intend to pull out of childminding rather than sign up to these regulations and to Tusla. The issues of paperwork and inspections, etc., have been raised. Would the Minister consider that review mechanism 18 months in?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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To be fair, we want the system to work. We want childminders to feel they can register with Tusla and that this is in their best interests as much as it is in the best interests of the children they care for as well. The work childminders do is invaluable. The Deputy is correct; it is a matter of choice for parents as well. Some parents opt for this and want this. I come from a rural constituency myself and know of the great work childminders do. I can say that, at this point, 511 childminders have completed their pre-registration training. Notwithstanding that, they have until September 2027. Like most things, we find there is a greater imperative to complete registrations closer to the timeframe. In regard to the review the Deputy referenced, rather than it taking place post September 2027, a commitment has been given that that will take place during the transition period. I think that it is only right and that we would learn as we go along. I am committed to that review taking place during the three-year transition period.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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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.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Kerrane. I have no argument with what she is saying. Childminders do provide a valuable service. It is important that they would be open to the registration process too though. That is important and will be a gain not just for children but for the childminders themselves. It also allows the supports to be put in place like those we have currently such as the €1,000 support to assist both registered and unregistered childminders. It is also only right and proper that parents themselves would benefit from the national childcare scheme. That is also a support to childminders. I am very happy to engage and do so an ongoing basis with all of the different organisations. The review will be helpful because it will smooth out the immediate challenges or difficulties that childminders are finding. It is not the purpose of the system or the registration system to make things difficult; rather it is to make it accessible. It is for that reason that we specifically funded the childminding development officer with the city and county childcare committees to work with and to support childminders. If anybody has any specific difficulties, I suggest they make direct contact with that development officer in their own area.