Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
50. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the steps she is taking to alleviate the concerns of an organisation (details supplied) ahead of the introduction of new regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [73190/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 Childminding 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 report has now been published and is available on the National Action Plan for Childminding web page (www.gov.ie/childminding).
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.
In a survey recently published by Childminding Ireland, 393 childminders responded to a question about their intentions for when registration becomes mandatory. 44% said they were "undecided", 32% said they intend to stop childminding, and 24% said they intend to register with Tusla. While those who responded to the survey and answered the question represent a small proportion of childminders, I fully understand the sense of uncertainty and anxiety childminders may be experiencing in this period of transition.
Significantly, those childminders who answered the same survey and who had already gone through the process of registration reported very positively on their experiences - only 4% described their experience as negative - while less than 1 in 8 of those who had been previously registered and now operate under the new regulations were dissatisfied.
I therefore believe that communications will be essential to addressing many childminders' concerns. A national communications strategy is a key element in Phase 2 of the National Action Plan for Childminding during the transition period which lasts until September 2027. Work on this strategy has begun, aiming to inform childminders and parents about the changes, the supports available, and what to expect.
The Department has committed to undertake a review of the initial implementation of the Childminding-specific Regulations during the transition period. The review will include consultation with childminders and other stakeholders.
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.
