Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 October 2022
151. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when parents who avail of childcare through a childminder can expect to avail of the reduction in childcare fees announced in Budget 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49691/22]
View answer156. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the progress that has been made to date under the Childminding Action Plan; the way in which it is anticipated that childminders may ultimately avail of national childcare scheme benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50389/22]
View answer158. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will outline details of a new scheme under the Childminding Action Plan to simplify the registration of childminders to help parents access Government subsidies under the national childcare scheme. [50708/22]
View answer169. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when childminders will be added to the national childcare scheme; if an interim measure will be introduced in order that parents who utilise a childminder could avail of the reduction in childcare fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50213/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 151, 156, 158 and 169 together.
The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028 commits to opening the National Childcare Scheme to childminders at the earliest possible opportunity. Phase 1 of the Action Plan, which began in 2021, is expected to take 2 – 3 years to complete. Phase 1 includes developing new regulations and providing training specific to childminding, amending legislation, further research on ways to support childminders most effectively, and re-examining the funding and financial supports available for childminders.
A key objective of the National Action Plan for Childminding is to enable parents who use childminders to benefit from State subsidies through the National Childcare Scheme. The Childcare Support Act 2018, which provides a statutory basis for the National Childcare Scheme, specifies that only Tusla-registered providers are eligible to participate. This limitation of public funding schemes to Tusla-registered providers helps to ensure that public funding is provided where there is assurance of the quality of provision.
Childminders who are currently minding four or more preschool children or seven children of any age, are required to register with Tusla and can already access the increased subsidies for parents announced in Budget 2023.
While only a small number of childminders are currently required to register with Tusla under the Child Care Act 1991, it is intended that the National Action Plan for Childminding in April 2021-2028 will result in the opening up of the National Childcare Scheme to a much wider cohort.The overall objective of the National Action Plan for Childminding is to improve access to high quality and affordable early learning and care and school-age childcare through childminding. The National Action Plan commits to opening the National Childcare Scheme to childminders at the earliest possible opportunity, though it will be necessary first to develop and introduce childminder-specific regulations, and to give childminders adequate time and support to meet regulatory requirements. Actions under way include the development of new, childminder-specific regulations that are proportionate and appropriate to the home environment in which childminders work, as well as the development of new, bespoke training for childminders.
Since coming into office I have been committed to seeing this process through. A great deal of work still lies ahead, and it is important that we take the time to get this right, as it will involve a major process of change.
