Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair and the Senator. When I was in opposition myself, I had a vested interest with three children. I have used the whole array. I have done structured childcare and I have had the childminders. I like the flexibility of a home away from home. I liked the idea that it was not a controlled environment. That is why I am delighted that the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, aims to publish draft childminding regulations early next year for the purpose of public consultation. To me, that public consultation is the key piece because we have the lowest number of childminders in the State. At one stage, I was so shocked to think that we have 4,200 registered structured crèche settings, and we had about 172 childminders. The Senator and I know that is not the case or the way it is.

The development of these new regulations has been under way since 2022 in line with the national action plan, and the process has been supported by an interagency advisory group reporting to the steering group for the national action plan. It is important that I point out that the Government also recognises that many childminders are anxious about the prospect of regulation and inspection. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has committed to ensuring that the new regulations will be proportionate, appropriate and respectful of the home and family setting that is so essential and unique to childminding. Furthermore, the new regulations will be introduced in a phased manner in line with the commitments in the national action plan.

Legislation to amend the Child Care Act 1991, which will remove the exemption of childminders from registration and regulation, underwent pre-legislative scrutiny in the summer and the Bill is currently being drafted. The amendment to the legislation will have to be enacted before childminder-specific regulations can be brought in. There is no doubt at all but that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is very conscious of the nervousness that is placed upon childminders. Both the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and I are very clear on the valuable role that childminders play. It is also important for parents to have the option to be able to avail of the national childcare scheme. The Senator talked about females but we also need to talk about the flexibility that childminders provide, particularly for people who are on shift work, or our nurses who have to be on shift for 8 o'clock in the morning and might have an hour's travel. Those childminders are open and available before 7 a.m. to assist, and it is the same way with late collection.

The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman and I are very conscious of it, and I want to reassure anybody who is making contact with the Senator to engage in the public consultation. That is what I would say. That public consultation will give even childminders who have left the structured system but who might still be providing the chance to tell us why they were fearful of participating in it. Their information and input would be valuable for us to understand, and to determine how the regulation could be set to acknowledge the role of how Tusla can engage and understand that home setting. I hope I have answered the Senator's question.