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Child Care Services Regulation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 July 2013

Thursday, 4 July 2013

Questions (12, 13)

Dara Calleary

Question:

12. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to improve the regulation of childminders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32552/13]

View answer

Timmy Dooley

Question:

13. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to introduce regulation for afterschool child care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32566/13]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 13 together.

Preschool services are subject to the Child Care (Preschool Services) (No.2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991. The inspection of preschools and the enforcement of the Regulations are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE).

At present childminders taking care of more than three preschool children from different families, and after-school care for children, are not subject to the Child Care Regulations. These are issues which I am reviewing and will consider further in the coming months in the context of both the Early Years Strategy, which is being developed by my Department, and other amendments to the Child Care Act 1991 which are being considered.

Childminders who are not subject to the Childcare Regulations are encouraged to voluntarily notify their service to their local City or County Childcare Committee. Both notified and voluntarily notified childminders can avail of the Childminders Tax Exemption which exempts child minding earnings of up to €15,000 from income tax. While my Department continues to actively promote the notification of child minding services and the participation of childminders in quality and training programmes, it is not in a position to prevent parents from entering into informal arrangements with childminders who are outside the scope of the Regulations.

One of the specific issues of policy which I have identified for consideration in the preparation of Ireland's first ever Early Years Strategy for children aged from birth to 6 years, is the future role and regulation of the child minding sector. I expect work on the Strategy to be completed later this year and I will review the future regulation of childminders in that context.

My Department is currently piloting a new School Age Childcare scheme in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection. When fully operational, the scheme will provide 6,000 subsidised, after-school places for primary school children, to assist qualifying parents to avail of employment opportunities. Eligibility for the scheme will be determined by the Department of Social Protection. Parents qualifying under the scheme will be able to access after school childcare at a weekly cost of €20. My Department will subsidise each of these places with weekly payments of €35 during term time and €100 in school holidays. Pending any change to the Child Care Act 1991 to extend regulatory control to after-school childcare, all services participating in the scheme will be subject to strict contractual requirements drawn up by my Department and monitored by Pobal.

Question No. 14 answered with Question No. 10.
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