Joint Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration to consider National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028

The meeting broadcast from Committee Room 2 of Leinster House at 3.30pm will hear from:

·         The Association of Childhood – Marian Quinn, Chairperson, and Ida Lane;

·         Childminding Ireland – Bernadette Orbinski Burke, Chief Executive, and Mary Walsh, Chairperson;

·         Early Childhood Ireland – Teresa Heeney, Chief Executive Officer, and Frances Byrne, Director of Policy and Advocacy.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Kathleen Funchion said: “The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-28 was published last month by the Minister for Children and sets out steps towards regulation, support and subsidies, for all paid, non-relative, childminders that will be developed over the next eight years. The Committee looks forward to hearing the views of these stakeholders on the plan, which aims to support child development and learning outcomes and help families by supporting childminders to provide high quality early learning and care and school age childcare.”

The Joint Committee on Children, Disability, Equality and Integration has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 2 can be viewed live on Oireachtas.ie.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.