Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
856. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childminders who have completed the pre-registration course through the county and city childcare committees. [14211/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra857. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of childminders who have completed the children first course as part of the childminding registration process. [14212/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 856 and 857 together.
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. In order to register as a childminding service, a childminder must provide a paid service for a minimum of 2 hours a day in their own home (principal residence) by themselves for children under the age of 15.
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, proof of insurance, first aid certification and child safeguarding training.
We are now in a 3-year transition period, to September 2027, 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.
As of end-December 2025, 158 childminders were registered with Tusla. All 158 have completed the ‘Introduction to Children First’ e-learning programme as part of the childminding registration process. This universal e-learning programme was developed by Tusla, the Department of Children, Equality and Disability and the Health Service Executive to support people of all backgrounds and experience in recognising concerns about children and reporting such concerns if they arise.
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 delivery of the short pre-registration training course, which must be completed in advance of registration. As of end-December 2025, 634 childminders had completed the pre-registration training.
