Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2021
116. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on the current status of the Childminding Action Plan considering the crisis in capacity within the childcare and early years sector; and if he will consider reducing overall target dates to meet pressing demand in the near future. [48272/21]
View answerThe National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 (NAPC) sets out a phased, incremental approach to extending supports and regulation to all non-relative childminders, including enabling childminders to take part in the National Childcare Scheme.
The NAPC is a key priority for my Department, and I am keen to move as quickly as possible with implementation. However, the NAPC will involve significant change for childminders, and it will be critical that as many childminders as possible are supported to make the transition to regulation and to be able to access subsidies for families using their services. Given the large scale of reforms involved, with thousands of childminders expected to move into the scope of regulation and supports and the need to build the infrastructure to support the reforms, the NAPC necessarily involves a phased approach.
In particular, during Phase 1 of the NAPC, which is expected to last 2-3 years, childminding-specific regulations will need to be developed that are proportionate and appropriate to childminders as will childminder-specific training. In addition, primary legislation will need to be amended, and there will be a need for further engagement and consultation with the childminding sector.
The Steering Group for the NAPC has recently been established. Its purpose is to drive, oversee and monitor implementation of the NAPC.
The Steering Group will be supported by four Advisory Groups which will be established over the course of Phase 1 in relation to: regulation and inspection; training and support; funding and financial supports; and stakeholder engagement, consultation and communications.
To support implementation of the NAPC, a National Childminding Coordinator has been appointed, and six regional Childminding Development Officers have been appointed to work with the City and County Childcare Committees at local level.
