Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

253. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects childminders to be added to the national childcare scheme and therefore those who avail of their services can benefit from the reduction in fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48712/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 sets out a plan for extending State support and regulation to childminding on a phased basis over the coming years. The overall objective of the Action Plan is to improve access to high quality and affordable early learning and care and school-age childcare through childminding.

A 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 National Childcare Scheme is only available to providers who are registered with Tusla, which is the statutory regulator for both early learning and care and school-age childcare. Childminders who are currently minding four or more preschool children or seven children of any age, are required to register with Tusla and can access the subsidies for parents.

A programme of actions is already under way during Phase 1 of the National Action Plan for Childminding to support a much wider cohort of childminders to come into the scope of regulation and supports. Actions under way include the development of new, childminder-specific regulations that are proportionate and appropriate to the home environment in which childminders work, as well as the development of new, bespoke training for childminders.

The National Action Plan for Childminding commits to opening the National Childcare Scheme to childminders at the earliest possible opportunity, though it will be necessary first to develop and introduce childminder-specific regulations, and to give childminders adequate time and support to meet regulatory requirements. Phase 1 of the Action Plan, which began in 2021, is expected to take 2 – 3 years to complete.

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

254. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will introduce alternative ways for those parents who utilise a childminder to avail of the reduction in childcare fees announced in Budget 2023 while parents wait for childminders to be added to the national childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48713/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Childcare Support Act 2018, which provides a statutory basis for the National Childcare Scheme, specifies that only Tusla-registered providers are eligible to participate. This limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision.

Childminders who are currently minding four or more preschool children or seven children of any age, are required to register with Tusla and can access the subsidies for parents. While only a small number of childminders are currently required to register with Tusla under the Child Care Act 1991, it is intended that the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 will result in the opening up of the National Childcare Scheme to a much wider cohort of childminders.

A programme of actions is already under way during Phase 1 of the National Action Plan for Childminding to support childminders to come into the scope of regulation and supports. Actions under way include the development of new, childminder-specific regulations that are proportionate and appropriate to the home environment in which childminders work, as well as the development of new, bespoke training for childminders. Actions are also being undertaken through City / County Childcare Committees (including the Childminding Development Officers) and through the National Voluntary Childcare Organisations to support childminders who can already register with Tusla to do so and to access National Childcare Scheme subsidies.