Mark Wall
Question:51. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will report on the engagement she has to date with childminding organisations regarding the issues impacting the sector. [47223/26]
View answerTuesday, 23 June 2026
Questions (51)
Written answers
Consultation and collaboration with stakeholders is a consistent feature of the work of the Department.
Childminders, and childminding representative organisations have and continue to be involved in all aspects of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028, from drafting through to implementation.
In addition, childminders and childminding representative organisations 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 members of childminding representative organisations. This continues to be the case.
These groups have met on 71 occasions, between the launch of the National Action Plan for Childminding in April 2021 and the introduction of Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Childminding Services) Regulations in September 2024. In addition, there were a number of meetings directly between supporting organisations and Department officials throughout this time frame, as well as meetings with the then Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
The introduction of the Childminding-specific Regulations in September 2024 marked the on-time completion of Phase 1 of the National action Plan and the commencement of Phase 2. Work in Phase 2 continues to be overseen by the Steering Group. In addition, new task and time limited Project Working Groups have been established, all include Childminding Ireland representatives, collectively these groups have met 14 times since the start of phase 2.
In addition, I chair an Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum, as well as an Early Learning and Childcare Provider Consultative Forum. The Stakeholder Forums meets two to three times a year, while the Provider Forum meets at least twice a year. I also met with representatives from Childminding Ireland in March of this year.
The Department's engagement with childminding organisations was also strongly evident in the predevelopment period, preceding the publication of the National Action Plan for Childminding. In 2016, the then Minister invited Childminding Ireland to chair the Working Group on Reforms and Supports for the Childminding Sector. This group published its recommendations in 2018. The Draft Action Plan, published in 2019, was based on the recommendations of this Working Group. In addition, the Draft Action Plan was subject to extensive consultation, which culminated with an open policy debate, in which stakeholder organisations participated.
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.
The Department has committed to undertake a review of the initial implementation of the Childminding-specific Regulations during the transition period. The Review, which launched last week, will include consultation with childminders, childminding representative organisations, and other stakeholders.