Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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60. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to change the legal status of childminders, which would make possible the future regulation of childminders and allow for access to the national childcare scheme to be opened in future to parents who use registered childminders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6393/23]

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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My question relates to the childminder situation. What are the Minister's plans to change the legal status of childminders, which would make possible the future regulation of childminders and allow access to the national childcare scheme to be opened in future to parents who use registered childminders? I ask for more information on that.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I thank the Deputy. Many childminders are currently excluded from registration and, therefore, from the national childcare scheme because of exemptions in the Child Care Act 1991. To bring all childminders within the scope of registration and the national childcare scheme subsidies requires an amendment to this Act.

In line with the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028, last week I secured Government approval to proceed with plans to remove the exemption from non-relative childminders who care for children in the childminder's home. This legislative change will allow us to introduce new, childminder-specific regulations. Registration will, in turn, allow for access to the national childcare scheme to be opened in future to a much wider cohort of parents who use childminders, making childminding more affordable to parents. Regulations will also provide assurance to parents of the quality of care that childminders provide in the best interests of children. Registration will also open up other financial and quality supports to childminders.

Childminding offers many benefits to children and parents but until now it has received little formal recognition by the State. It has remained at the margins of funding, support and regulation, despite its many advantages and its continued popularity among parents. I know that many parents who use childminders are keen for these measures to be taken as quickly as possible, in order that they can benefit from the significant increase in national childcare scheme subsidies I introduced at the start of January this year.

However, I also know that many childminders are anxious about the prospect of regulation and inspection. Inasmuch as I can, Ioffer reassurance to childminders that the new regulations, when they are written, will be proportionate and respectful of the home and family setting that is so essential and unique to childminding. We recognise that childminding in the home is different to centre-based childcare, and the system that is being introduced will reflect that difference. Furthermore, the new regulations will be introduced in a phased manner in line with the commitments in the national action plan.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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That is welcome. I have often spoken on this matter. Childminders are invaluable. Theirs is the service I used due to the nature of my current work and when I previously worked for a trade union, where the hours are so uncertain. Many people are in that situation, including those doing shift work or not doing the traditional 9 to 5 hours. There are so many roles like that where childminders are invaluable. It would be great to bring them into the system. Will that have to go through the whole legislative process or will it be done through a simple amendment? Is that legislation envisaged for this year? What would the difference be? There is obviously significant regulation in this area. Nobody has a difficulty with that for centre-based childcare but regulation would have to be fair to both childminders and centre-based childcare in order that there are not two totally different sets of regulations, even though I recognise childminding is different, as we all do. In order that it is fair, is it envisaged that the subsidy will be the same for both types of childcare? Has that been looked at yet?

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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We are planning to bring forward proposals for changes to the Child Care Act 1991 to Cabinet by the end of quarter 1. Those will be quite substantial and will include revising the law in the area of the taking of children into care because the 1991 legislation needs to be changed. Tusla's powers of inspection for centre-based childcare will also be included within that legislation. We will add a power in that the Minister will be given the power to create regulations for childminders. It is to be hoped, all things going well and working well with the committee the Deputy chairs, we might get that legislation passed by the end of this year or possibly early next year.

We are also engaging with childminding groups. I met with Childminding Ireland, the largest representative group for childminders, two weeks ago. We are engaging with childminders on the scope of these regulations. We need a regulatory structure. That is correct in assuring quality for children and parents but we also need to recognise, as the Deputy said, that childminding in the home is different to centre-based childcare.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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This is good. It would be great to complete the legislation this year in order that it could come into force next year. Those of us familiar with this sector have often wondered how to encourage more people to register. I have always thought there is sometimes a fear that, all of a sudden, somebody who has been childminding for years but was not registered believes there will be some sort of backlash.

These proposals, therefore, are good. It is timely that people would get the subsidy. It is great for parents not to be reliant on centre-based childcare. We also know about, and often talk here about, the capacity of centre-based childcare at the moment. If childminders can avail of this scheme too, it will be beneficial.

The other point I wanted to make, which the Minister kind of covered, was about the consultation. I know that Childminding Ireland is the significant group in that regard, but the regulations should be drafted in consultation with it. Any input from parents or advocacy groups would also be helpful.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I had a good meeting with Childminding Ireland three weeks ago, and earlier this week I wrote to it on foot of that meeting. Not only did I write to it but I also asked it to distribute a letter from me across childminders in its network setting out what we are doing with the childminding action plan and what the next steps are. I know, even from a couple of emails I got when the announcement was made last year, that there is some fear among childminders as to what we are seeking to do.

I think everyone agrees that this is a positive step. We are looking to create childminder-specific regulations, different from the regulatory structure for centre-based childcare. There will be an open registration process to encourage childminders to sign up and to register. We know that this is new and different and will be a change for many of them. Once they register, however, the big plus in all this, as well as being able to assure quality, is to give parents the benefit of the cuts to fees. Parents who use childminders will get the same benefit of the cuts we achieved for parents who use centre-based childcare from 1 January of this year. I think that is something we all wish to achieve.