Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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1233. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth her plans to examine the establishment of a professional register for childminders and early years educators, reflecting the professionalism of the sector as committed in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30377/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Currently in Ireland there is no regulator for the profession, but some elements of the regulation of the profession are already in place, particularly through the requirement for a minimum qualification. Adherence to minimum qualification requirements is monitored through regulation of services.

The Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2016, requires that all staff working directly with children in a pre-school service must hold at least a Level 5 major award in early childhood care and education on the National Framework of Qualifications, or equivalent as deemed by the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality.

It is also a legal requirement that any provider of an early years’ service and any person employed to work in an early years’ service must undergo Garda vetting before taking up their role.

Both First 5 and Nurturing Skills commit to moving incrementally over time towards regulation of the Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare profession.

The framework for a move to a formal register is being put in place through the establishment of the Qualifications Advisory Board which assesses early learning and care degree programmes against criteria and guidelines for professional awards. In parallel, Quality and Qualifications Ireland published and early learning and care annotated Professional Award Type Descriptors for specifically for early learning and care awards at National Framework of Qualifications Levels 5-6, on which new Level 5 and 6 programmes are based.

A more rigorous qualification recognition process is a key first step to the introduction of a professional register, similar to those in place for other key professions in Ireland.