Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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267. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has considered reinstating the child minding advisory service and developing a national approach; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19935/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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In 2002, the Health Service Executive (HSE) agreed to fund a Childminding Advisory Officer post in each county, who would work with the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) funded under the Childcare Programme, implemented by the then Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The role included notifying childminders of training opportunities, providing networking opportunities and supporting the CCCs with their work with childminders.

In recent years, HSE funding for the Childminding Advisory Officer posts has gradually decreased, and is no longer in place in the majority of areas. The funding of the 30 CCCs was also reduced as part of expenditure reviews in recent years. However, the CCCs continue to provide valuable services at local level and supporting the childminding sector is an integral part of their work. As a result, childminders continue to have access to some level of support, training and advice.

My Department provides annual funding to each CCC to enable them to support and advise all childcare providers at local level. In 2016, the total amount allocated to the CCCs was €10.4m. In addition, in 2016 my Department provided €250,000 to the CCCs for Childminding Development Grants. My Department also provides annual funding, totalling €2.44m in 2016, to seven National Voluntary Childcare Organisations to provide support at a local level to their members. This included €340,000 for Childminding Ireland (CMI), the representative body for childminders. This national association supports quality development in family based care for children. It supports parents with childcare choices and concerns and also childminders. My Department will soon commence work with Childminding Ireland through a consultative group to inform policy on a programme of supports and reforms for the Childminding Sector.

Under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016, services providing care for children who have not yet commenced primary school are required to register their service with the Early Years (Pre-School) Inspectorate in Tusla, and are subject to inspection and report by the Inspectorate on a regular basis. Services covered by the Regulations include full-time, part-time, temporary, overnight, and sessional services, as well as childminders taking care of more than three pre-school children from different families in the childminder's home.

Childminders taking care of not more than three pre-school children from different families are not covered by the Regulations. Decisions on how best to regulate and support the childminding sector will continue to form part of the ongoing work and considerations of officials working on the Early Years Strategy which is due to be finalised by the end of 2016.