Childminders are a hugely important part of early learning and care and school-age childcare provision, and they continue to be the option of choice for many families.
The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 set out a pathway for the extension of regulation to childminders. A key objective of the National Action Plan is to enable parents who use childminders to benefit from State subsidies through the National Childcare Scheme. The Childcare Support Act 2018, which provides the statutory basis for the National Childcare Scheme, specifies that the Scheme is only open to Tusla-registered providers. This ensures that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision. Therefore, only childminders who are registered with Tusla can offer the National Childcare Scheme to the families that avail of their services
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. The regulation of childminding services is critical to the safeguarding of children. The route to registration under the new regulations requires childminders to undertake pre-registration training, as well as meeting certain regulatory requirements including Garda vetting, first aid certification and child safeguarding training.
While childminders are now able to apply to register with Tusla and access the National Childcare Scheme, the Act provides for a statutory transition period of three years ending in September 2027. During this three-year period, childminders can register with Tusla but are not required to do so.
While the Department has successfully completed Phase 1 of the National Action Plan, considerable work lies ahead during Phase 2, in supporting the large number of unregistered childminders to register with Tusla and take part in the National Childcare Scheme before the end of the transition period.
A national communications strategy is a key element of Phase 2. Work on this communications strategy has begun, aiming to inform childminders and parents about the changes, supports available and what to expect.
Work toward the development of a Quality Development Programme, as outlined in the National Action Plan for Childminding, has also commenced.
The Department has committed to undertake a review of the initial implementation of the Childminding-specific Regulations during the transition period. This review will commence in 2026. The review will include consultation with childminders and other stakeholders.
