Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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668. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the work of the unit within his Department examining what a nationalised childcare model might look like; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43287/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Reform of the early learning and childcare sector has been a major focus of this Government.

The Programme for Government committed to reforming the system to create one that brings together the best of community and private provision and the development of a new funding model for affordable, accessible, sustainable and high quality early learning and childcare.

The framework for reform of the sector is set out in Partnership for the Public Good, the 2021 report of an Expert Group which was established to develop a new funding model for the sector. The key theme of the recommendations in the report was to strengthen State involvement and enhanced public management in the sector, in conjunction with increased State funding. This is intended to be underpinned by a cultural shift to a partnership relationship between providers and the State that reflects the public good dimension of early learning and childcare, with new responsibilities on both sides.

The introduction of the new Core Funding scheme and its associated conditionality including in relation to staff pay and fee management; developments to the National Childcare Scheme and the Access and Inclusion Model; and the establishment of Equal Start this year represent the implementation of several of the specific recommendations in the report.

Under their terms of reference, the Expert Group was not asked to propose changes to the current model of delivery (i.e. privately-operated provision), rather that the Group should seek to further achieve policy objectives of quality, affordability, accessibility and contributing to addressing disadvantage in a privately-operated system through increased public funding and public management.

Notwithstanding their terms of reference, the Expert Group included in one of its 25 recommendations that: In the medium term, the Minister should mandate the Department to examine whether some element of public provision should be introduced alongside private provision.

In January 2024, I established a new unit, the Supply Management Unit in the Early Learning and Childcare Division, which includes as part of its remit to begin an exploration of public provision as called for in Recommendation 25. The unit is also responsible for developing a new forward planning model and administering capital funding. The Unit has been gradually increasing its staffing levels during the year so that it can deliver its remit.

There are different understandings of what public provision means to stakeholders in the sector. Issues relating to staff employment, pay and conditions; ownership and management of buildings; operating models; governance arrangements; service offering; appropriate level of supply of services; fees for parents; and the overall funding model will need to be examined. These issues, along with the wider potential implications of introducing an element of public delivery, are beginning to be examined by my officials.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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669. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update the number of childminders that have registered for the NCS; the supports available to them to register; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43288/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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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.

On 30 September I commenced relevant sections of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024, including removal of the exemption from registration for childminders, and at the same time the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Childminding Regulations) 2024 came into effect. Tusla opened the registration portal for childminders on the same day.

The pathway to registration under the new regulations requires childminders to undertake pre-registration training, as well as meeting certain regulatory requirements including Garda vetting, first aid certification and child safeguarding training. The childminder can then make a registration application to Tusla. Tusla assess the application and arrange for a pre-registration assessment (home visit). If the application and pre-registration assessment are successful, Tusla can register the childminder and the childminder can enter into contract for the National Childcare Scheme.

I have secured the funding, over successive budgets, to ensure that there is a Childminding Development Officer (CMDO) in each City/County Childcare Committee. The CMDOs are responsible for delivering the pre-registration training and providing supports to childminders at local level.

Prior to the introduction of the childminding regulations, a small number of childminders were registered under the early years service and school age childcare regulations. Of the 74 previously registered childminders, 57 currently have a contract to offer the National Childcare Scheme.

Among childminders not previously registered, to date 59 childminders have completed the pre-registration training, preparatory to applying to Tusla for registration.