Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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165. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will report on her engagements with the childminding sector. [61900/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Consultation and collaboration with stakeholders is a consistent feature of the work of the Department.

Childminders, and childminding representative organisations, including Childminding Ireland, have and continue to be involved in all aspects of the National Action Plan for Childminding, from drafting through to implementation. Consultation with childminders underpinned the development of the National Action Plan itself: the Draft Action Plan was based on the report of a working group chaired by Childminding Ireland.

A comprehensive consultation process followed publication of the Draft Action Plan, with childminders, parents and other key stakeholders. The consultation process consisted of four strands: written submissions; an online survey; focus groups with childminders; and an Open Policy Debate. In addition to the 467 survey responses and 14 written submissions, there were 32 focus groups where a total of 205 childminders attended.

In addition, childminders were consulted with and participated in all aspects of the development of the Childminding-specific Regulations, which came into effect on 30 September 2024.

Both the Steering Group for the National Action Plan for Childminding, and all the Advisory Groups and Working Groups that have operated under the National Action Plan, have included individual childminders as well as representatives of Childminding Ireland. That continues to be the case.

An extensive public consultation was also held on the draft Childminding-specific Regulations between February and May 2024. The consultation process allowed childminders, parents and other interested parties to contribute in a variety of ways including an online survey and written submissions, as well as through focus groups and a consultation event for national stakeholder organisations. The consultation received 664 valid online survey responses and a further 90 written submissions.

The Department is committed to a review of the initial implementation of the Childminding-specific Regulations. The review will include consultation with childminders and other stakeholders.

In addition, I chair an Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum, as well as a Providers’ Forum, and Childminding Ireland are a member of both forums.

Officials in the Department have met with Childminding Ireland on a frequent basis throughout these processes.

As we progress through phase 2 of the National Action Plan for Childminding, we will continue to meet with and consult childminders and childminding representative organisations, working together to overcome issues and challenges.