Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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134. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the requirements for childminders when they are registering with Tusla; if she will outline the details of the review which is underway in relation to these requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33067/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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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.

The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024, enacted and part commenced last year defines a “childminding service” as follows:

‘childminding service’ means a service that—

"(a) entails an individual taking care, by himself or herself, of children under the age of 15 years, in the home of the individual, and

(b) is provided to children (other than that individual’s own children) for a total period of not less than 2 hours per day."

In line with this definition, a primary feature of a childminder is that they undertake the work in the childminder's family home.

The childminding-specific Regulations, which came into effect last September, are designed to be proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which childminders work. The regulations set out the exact requirements as to what is required for registration. This information is also available on Tusla's website.

The requirements include: completion of an application form, including provision of information about the planned childminding service; Garda and police Vetting; two references; proof of identity; a copy of the childminder's insurance certificate; certificates of completion of Pre-Registration Training (which is a short training course provided free by Childminding Development Officers at local level across the country), First Aid Training, and Children First Training; completion of a declaration of suitability, and of a fire safety declaration; and payment of the application fee.

Once this information has been received and is deemed acceptable by Tusla, a pre-registration assessment will take place in the childminder's home. Following the completion of this and any necessary follow up, a report will be issued to the childminder before their registration is complete.

Childminders now have a three-year transition period (to September 2027) during which they are able to register with Tusla but are not yet required to do so. Once registered with Tusla, a childminder can apply to take part in the National Childcare Scheme.

During the transition period, supports are available for childminders at local level through the City and County Childcare Committees. Each City and County Childcare Committee employs a Childminding Development Officer, who provides a range of supports to local childminders, including the short pre-registration training course.

The National Action Plan commits to a review of the initial implementation of the childminding-specific Regulations before 2028. This review will be broad in scope. My Department will undertake this review (which will include consultation with childminders and other stakeholders) during the three-year transition period which runs to 2027. Following conclusion of this review I will give consideration to the appropriate next steps.