Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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627. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of schemes available through his Department to enable the provision of new facilities and upgrading of existing facilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29753/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The support my department provides for the development of new play and recreation facilities for children and young people is through the annual Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation. Established in 2013, this grant scheme operates through and with Local Authorities. The scheme also funds the refurbishment of existing play and recreation facilities and the incorporation of natural play elements.

The criteria for the scheme were developed in partnership with the Local Authority Play and Recreation Network, established to bring a focus on play and recreation within each local authority.

For each project, 25% of the awarded amount must be provided by the Local Authority. Facilities and equipment funded must be accessible to children and young people of all abilities, as far as possible.

All facilities and equipment funded must be child-friendly and safe, and all projects funded under the scheme must provide evidence that children and young people living locally who will have access to the facility have been consulted about the project for which funding is sought.

All spaces and facilities for which funding is granted must be available for use by all children and young people in the locality at times when they are free to use them, including outside of school hours.

Children’s playgrounds and play areas should be places of fun and activity for all children to enjoy, so that every child can experience the joy and excitement that comes with playing outdoors.

Since 2021, funding of €450,000 per year has been made available to Local Authorities through this scheme. Applications must be made through the relevant Local Authority Play and Recreation Network member.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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628. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the national childcare scheme will be open to childminders who are not registered with Tusla; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29755/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to extending regulation and supports to all paid, non-relative childminders who work in their own homes. The National Action Plan sets out a phased approach to regulation with a preparatory phase followed by an extended transition period, to allow childminders lead-in time for any requirements. This supportive, phased process aims to facilitate the largest possible number of childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies, while recognising the time and supports required for this reform.

The main route through which parents are subsidised for their early learning and childcare costs is the National Childcare Scheme. 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 in the 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. Therefore, only childminders who are registered with Tusla will be able to offer the National Childcare Scheme to the families that avail of their services.

Phase 1 of the National Action Plan is nearing completion. The Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2024 has recently passed all stages in the Oireachtas. The Bill will remove the exemption relating to childminders from the application of Part VIIA of the Child Care Act, to facilitate the extension of regulation to all paid, non-relative childminders. The Bill provides a definition of a childminding service and includes it as a type of early years service, and amends the Childcare Support Act 2018 to align with the definition of early years service in the Child Care Act, thus ensuring that childminders will have access to the National Childcare Scheme. The Bill also provides for a transition period of three years before registration becomes mandatory. During the transition period, childminders will be able to register with Tusla under new childminder-specific regulations and will then be able to take part in the National Childcare Scheme.

The new, childminder-specific regulations, which will be proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which childminders work, are in the final stages of development. Once the regulations have been finalised, pre-registration training to assist childminders to prepare for the regulations and registration with Tusla will start being rolled out.