Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber today to take this Commencement matter. Before I speak about childcare and childminders, it is important to acknowledge the incredible work the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has done in his Department to reduce childcare costs for parents right across the country. In budget 2023, there was a reduction of 25% and in budget 2024 there was a reduction of 25%. I was applying to participate in the national childcare scheme two days ago and noted there has been an increase in the subsidy from €1.40 per hour to €2.14 per hour for 45 hours, which represents significant savings for families right across the country. Only a couple of years ago, the cost of childcare was almost like a second mortgage for people. The changes the Government has made have been very impactful. Most parents across the country can see the benefit of the service that childcare providers provide. I see it myself. My child graduated from his childcare on Friday. The staff and childcare are incredible. They are teachers, in my view, and the work they do is incredible.

Childcare services and childcare providers are not suitable for everyone, however, so childcare minders play a critical role in the State in supporting people, for whatever reason. Some people have different hours of work than others. For people such as gardaí and nurses and those who do shift work, a childcare facility is not suitable, but a childminder is very suitable.

The reason I raise this is the new legislation being introduced concerning the number of children childminders may look after. It is causing great concern within the sector. At a time of full employment and when the number of childcare providers right across the country is low, the introduction of important legislation is critical, but the restrictions being placed on childminders are causing a genuine problem. I know of a childminder in Tipperary who looks after several kids. She has four children herself at home but those four children will be categorised as four children she is minding, which means that if she has to abide by the new legislation, she will have to turn away those using her service at present. Such childminders provide a wonderful service. Parents are thrilled with the service provided by childminders, who educate their children while they are away at work. We have full employment and actually need more workers, but to meet this need we have to ensure we have enough services, whether they are provided by childcare providers or childminders. I ask that the Minister reflect on this, have further discussions with groups and organisations that represent childminders and consider a realistic package.

A genuine worry of mine is that a number of childminders in Tipperary just do not see a future in service under the new legislation. It would be desirable to reach some sort of middle ground where childminders are not viewed in the same light as childcare providers. There are differences because a childcare provider, unlike a childminder, has a facility in place that is not someone's home, and it is very difficult for a childminder to meet all the new requirements being put in place. I welcome the three-year grace period, which is very important, but I think we need to engage a little more to determine what can realistically be done by the childminders. As a State, we cannot afford not to have as many childminders and childcare providers operating.

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I thank Senator Ahearn for raising this important issue and for offering the Minister the opportunity to respond and update on the progress being made toward the regulation and registration of childminders. The Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, is very aware of the level of concern among childminders at present.

The Bill to amend the Child Care Act 1991 is progressing through the Houses. It deals with a number of reforms, including the removal of the exemption from regulation for childminders and allowing for the extension of regulation and supports to all paid, non-relative childminders with a view to the introduction of the childminding-specific regulations in the autumn. It also includes a proposed transition period of three years before the regulations become mandatory. In line with the national action plan for childminding, this phased approach is intended to give childminders the time to prepare for and meet the new regulation and registration requirements that will be put in place.

The draft regulations were opened to the public for consultation in early February for a period of 12 weeks. During that time the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, met a number of childminders and received representations from childminders around the country. Those representations were included as submissions for the purposes of the consultation. An independent company has been contracted to undertake an analysis of the submissions and of other elements of the consultation process and to report on its findings.

The steering group of the national action plan met in recent days to examine the consultation findings and consider any changes that need to be made to the draft regulations. Childminders and the representative organisation, among others, sit on the steering group. Their proposals for change will then go to the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, for review and consideration.

I can assure the Senators that the Minister is fully committed to ensuring the regulations are proportionate and appropriate to the home and family setting and that they respect the unique way in which childminders work. The Minister has also ensured, through budgetary measures, that there is a childminding development officer in every city and county childcare committee in the country to ensure there are sufficient supports available to childminders at local level. In addition, a pre-registration training programme will be rolled out across the country to assist childminders with the new regulations and registration processes. An additional €3 million was allocated to Tusla in budget 2024 to ensure it has sufficient resources to prepare for the registration and regulation of childminders.

Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his response. The response from the Department and the Minister is essentially what I have been asking for. With regard to that draft legislation, if proposals are put forward by the groups representing childminders, I hope the Minister will agree to them. There is no doubt about the Minister's commitment to supporting childcare. It is about the changes being appropriate to the home and family setting and making sure that is recognised in the proposals. I look forward to seeing the final legislation. I acknowledge the Minister's good work on it. We are at a point with the legislation where there is a fear within the childminding sector of what the outcome might be and a fear for the service they provide. These people love the kids they care for, look after and educate and all they want to do is to be able to provide the best care they can for those kids, on behalf of the parents, and be in the best position possible and with the best support from the Government. All I ask is that we, and I know the Minister will, listen to the childminders about the requests they make for the supports they need to be able to provide that critical service.

Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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I agree with everything the Senator has said. The Minister, Deputy O’Gorman, has told me he is committed to regulating childminders in a way that is appropriate and proportionate and he is committed to ensuring sufficient resources are in place to ensure the path to registration is as supportive as possible.

The national action plan for childminding was underpinned by extensive consultation with childminders and parents. A total of 1,000 inputs were received during the public consultation and these included online surveys, direct submissions and focus groups. Most of those submissions came from childminders and parents. Those submissions have been analysed and the results will be used to inform changes to the regulations. Time and support will be given to all childminders to engage with and understand the regulations and what is being asked of them. The core of this is that it has to be based on listening and consultation. It has to be doable and workable in practice. We will only know that by speaking directly to the childminders and parents involved. We cannot rush something in. We do not want to bring something in that is impractical. At the same time, basic protections for children have to be in place. There have to be some standards and what is being done is not being rushed. It is being done in a respectful and consultative way. I encourage anybody who has any other suggestions to continue to liaise with the Department.