Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

505. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to provide a copy of the independent external review of the draft Childminding Regulations which was carried out by a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [68018/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of regulation to childminders. The childminding-specific Regulations, which came into effect in September 2024, are designed to be proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting in which childminders work. Childminders were consulted on and involved in all aspects of the development of the regulations. Both the Steering Group for the National Action Plan for Childminding, and the Advisory Groups that have supported it, have included childminders, as well as organisations representing childminders.

In addition, an independent external review of the draft regulations was carried out by Dr Bill Maxwell, the former CEO of Education Scotland, former Chief Inspector in both Scotland and Wales, and OECD consultant, which confirmed that the approach was proportionate for childminding in Ireland. The external review was commissioned in 2024 by the then Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an independent, external assessment of the Draft Childminding Regulations before their finalisation. I will explore the possibility of publishing the review in the near future.