Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
874. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality in light of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021–2028, the key changes made to the regulations as a result of the public consultation earlier in 2025; the supports and guidance that will be made available to childminders during the three-year transition period before registration with Tusla becomes mandatory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72539/25]
View answerOn 8 February 2024, a 12-week public consultation on draft childminding regulations was launched. This represented a major milestone in the development of childminding in Ireland and the implementation of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021 – 2028. The draft regulations were published along with a draft guidance document and an easy read summary.
In response to the public consultation, which ended 2 May 2024, a number of key changes were made to the draft regulations which included:
• Discounting a childminder's own children when assessing maximum numbers where they are not under the care of the childminder even if they are present in the home (e.g. if they are under the care of a partner or other family member);
• Reducing the upper age limit of a childminder's own children who are counted when assessing maximum numbers, from end of primary school, to children under 10 years old;
• Removal of the requirement for a childminder to keep records of the attendance of their own children (even if their own children are counted within maximum numbers);
• Lowering the upper age limit in considering the maximum number of very young children, from maximum two children under 2 years old, to maximum two children under 15 months old;
• Simplifying the process for changing emergency cover persons, and clarifying that emergency cover persons can include members of the childminder's household and can also include parents of children attending the childminding service;
• Changes in the language to reflect the home setting in which the service takes place (e.g. changing "premises" to "home", and "registered provider" to "childminder");
• Clarifying that "learning and development" will be understood in the context of the home and family context in which childminders operate;
• Clarifying that a childminder's operating hours can be flexible; and
• Simplification of regulations where possible.
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 of the regulations was proportionate for childminding in Ireland.
The full Report on the Draft Childminding Regulations Consultation can be found here: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/report-on-the-draft-childminding-regulations-consultation.pdf
The detailed Response to the Consultation Findings can be found here: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/response-to-the-consultation-findings.pdf
We are now in a 3-year transition period during which childminders are being encouraged and supported to register, but registration is not yet mandatory. This phased approach aims to facilitate the largest possible number of childminders to enter the regulated sector, the sphere of quality assurance, and access to Government subsidies, while recognising the time and supports required for childminders to learn about and prepare for registration.
The Department has committed to undertake a review of the initial implementation of the Childminding-specific Regulations during the transition period. The review will commence in 2026 and will include consultation with childminders and other stakeholders.
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 a short pre-registration training course.
The Childminding Development Grant provides up to €1,000 to assist both registered and unregistered childminders who are providing a childminding service in their own homes. In 2025, the Department has paid €413,338 to childminders through the Childminding Development Grant. A further round of the Grant will open in early 2026.
