Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank the Senator for raising this very important issue. It is a priority for the Minister and the rest of the Government. The programme for Government firmly commits to retaining childminding as a valued and important part of the provision of both early learning and care and school-aged childcare. It states, "Childminding plays a significant role in the provision of early years and school aged care and should remain a viable choice for parents." The continued implementation of the national action plan for childminding is essential to the successful achievement of these commitments.

As the Senator knows, the 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. The limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered childcare providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision. The Government is fully committed to the regulation of childminding, which is critical to the safeguarding of children. The regulations are proportionate and appropriate and need to reflect the home and family settings in which the childminders work.

If everyone complies and fills in the forms, there is funding there for everybody that could help.