Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1125. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the draft childminding action plan (details supplied). [5124/20]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Draft Childminding Action Plan, which was published for the purpose of public consultation in August 2019, sets out a pathway to achieving Government commitments in First 5.Officials in my Department are in the process of analysing the findings from the public consultation process and making revisions to the Draft Childminding Action Plan, with the aim of bringing a revised Childminding Action Plan to Government for approval.

The Draft Childminding Action Plan makes clear that childminding is central to the provision of both early learning and care and school-age childcare in Ireland. For many children in Ireland, a childminder plays a valued role in their early learning and care and overall well-being, often over many years. As the draft plannotes, the research evidence points to positive outcomes for children of quality childminding, which may be linked to consistency of carer and a low child-adult ratio.

I am very aware of the unique nature of a childminding service. The Draft Childminding Action Plan proposes to develop regulations and an inspection model that are specific and appropriate to childminding, and training that is specific to childminders, as well as to develop bespoke resources to support the quality of childminding provision, including through the development of staffed local networks to provide professional development and peer support.

The draft plan was widely publicised on websites and social media, and through National Voluntary Organisations and City/County Childcare Committees. Following publication of the childminding action plan as a draft, my Department provided an extensive consultation process which included a call for submissions which had 14 responses, an online survey which had 471 responses, an Open Policy Debate, and 32 Focus Group consultations around the country.

The 32 focus groups were specifically designed to allow direct conversation with childminders about the proposed reforms. The focus groups were organised by the local City/County Childcare Committees with the help of the team of 6 regional Childminding Development Officers that I put in place last year. The dates chosen for each focus group meeting depended on local availability of facilitators and venues in each county. The focus groups were organised in evenings, to make it easier for childminders to take part.

All aspects of the consultation process - the focus groups, survey, Open Policy Debate, and submissions received - are being given full weight in the analysis of the consultation findings.