Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2021

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Childcare Services

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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387. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress being made on the National Action Plan for Childminding; the representative bodies involved; the consequences of the decision by an organisation (details supplied) to withdraw from this process given the fact that it represents many childminders around the country who are critical for childcare for many thousands of parents and children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36218/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The National Action Plan for Childminding, which was published in April 2021, aims to improve access, through childminding, to high quality and affordable childcare. The Action Plan sets out a pathway over the next eight years towards regulation, support and subsidies for all paid, non-relative childminders. The Action Plan will involve change and will bring significant benefits for childminders, and for the children and the families using their services.

A National Action Plan for Childminding Steering Group is in the process of being formed, to drive, oversee and monitor implementation of the National Action Plan. The Steering Group will be supported by four Advisory Groups in relation to: regulation and inspection; training and support; funding and financial supports; and consultation and communications.

The National Action Plan commits to representation of childminders, parents and other key stakeholders on the Steering Group, which will be chaired by my Department. Additionally the National Action Plan commits to representation of childminders on all four Advisory Groups.

The National Action Plan itself was based on extensive consultation and engagement with childminders, and the blueprint for the National Action Plan was the 2018 report of the Working Group on Reforms and Supports for the Childminding Sector, which was coordinated and chaired by Childminding Ireland. The National Action Plan commits to further consultation with childminders, especially during Phase 1 of the Plan when developing regulations specific to childminders.

While the organisation in question, which represents childminders, temporarily withdrew from processes related to the National Action Plan on 2 June, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that officials in my Department received written confirmation on 5 July that the organisation is now re-engaging in the National Action Plan processes. They have confirmed that they will accept the invitation to take up a seat on the Steering Group for the National Action Plan.

Their agreement to re-engage is very welcome as I believe that active engagement and consultation with childminders and their representatives will be a key to successful implementation of the National Action Plan.

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