John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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326. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will clarify if there is a position regarding tax relief or other supports available to parents who engage the services of childminders who are not currently registered with Tusla; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21756/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Childminders who provide childminding services in their own home may claim Childcare Services Relief each year, provided that they do not receive more than €15,000 income per annum from the childminding activity. The position regarding tax relief available to parents who engage the services of childminders who are not currently registered with Tusla is a matter for the Minister for Finance.

The National Childcare Scheme provides subsidies – both universal and targeted - to reduce the costs to parents for children to participate in early learning and childcare. 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.

The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of registration to childminders. 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. As a result of the commencement of the relevant parts of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 and the Childminding Services Regulations, which came into effect on 30 September 2024, childminders are now able to apply to register with Tusla and can therefore also take part in the National Childcare Scheme.