81. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware of concerns raised by childminders as to the future of their childminding service, and the impact that childminders leaving the sector would have given the already severe lack of childcare capacity; if she will meet with an organisation (details supplied) which represents childminders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61735/25]
Sentiment score: -0.20
I hope the Minister will hear us about the issues that childminders are bringing to our attention and the need for that review to take place as quickly as possible. The regulations have been in place for just over one year. It is the perfect time for that review now to commence. When does the Minister expect that review to begin? Childminders are telling parents that they are already leaving. We need the review as soon as possible.
Sentiment score: 0.17
I urge the Minister to ensure that the review takes place early next year. I was on the radio today. There was someone on with me who has been a childminder for 17 years. She is leaving. She has told the parents of the children that she will not be able to look after them at the end of the school year next June. She is one of many. I do not see any reason that a review of the regulations would be delayed. If we go through the regulations, one example of them being unworkable is the emergency cover. There has to be somebody who can provide emergency cover at all times. Unless the provider has a Johnny or a Mary who will sit at the window and look out and wait for the call, that is not possible. If the childminder needs to change that person or that person decides they are leaving, they have to give Tusla 60 days’ notice. Unless that emergency cover is in some kind of a contract with the childminder, how would they get 60 days’ notice from somebody? I know a childminder in Roscommon. They have four emergency contacts via the parents of children that they look after and now she needs to go and find another emergency contact who can be available at all times. This is not workable. I would like some further detail on when the review will take place.
Sentiment score: -0.08
Respectfully, the problem is that some of those childminders at that point will be gone. If we are waiting for them to register with Tulsa and we then engage with them at that point, is it under 200 of the 13,000 or 14,000 childminders in the State who have registered with Tusla to date? It is happening at a snail’s pace. If that is what we are waiting for, then the review will be almost a waste of time. At a time when we are short about 40,000 or 50,000 childcare places in this State, we have childminders who have given 17, 18 and 19 years of service. They are signing up for regulations, including inspections, that they have no detail or information on in terms of people coming into their homes. They deserve better than that. There is not a childminder in the State that is not willing to comply with the regulations. Most of them are Garda vetted. They have done first aid training. They are doing what is being asked of them in the bulk of the regulations that are laid out. However, I see no reason when we are almost 14 months on that the Minister is not in a position to say that in the new year, we will carry out the review and get this right. That is what we all want, but childminders are leaving now and that is the problem. There does not seem to be an acknowledgement of that. The Minister is hearing it from this side of the House, and it is concerning that she is not actually hearing it.
Sentiment score: -0.05
That was the first year. It is over; it is gone.
Sentiment score: 0.00
83. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline the measures announced in budget 2026 for the early years sector, including the 2,300 places to be created via extensions to schools and community centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61736/25]
Sentiment score: 0.09
I want to ask the Minister to outline the measures for the early years sector that were announced in budget 2026, particularly the measure to provide 2,300 places via extensions to schools and community centres. Perhaps she will be able to enlighten us as to where that measure came from and how long she expects planning permission to take for these extensions to take place.
Sentiment score: 0.29
I welcome all of those measures and any measure announced for the early years sector that will make a difference. One of the biggest issues we have in the early years sector right now is capacity. We have serious issues in terms of capacity, whether it is capacity in baby rooms or capacity in childcare places at every level right across the State. As far as I am concerned, when we need 40,000 to 50,000 childcare places, we are in a crisis. I had hoped the building blocks grant would have been expanded. I have raised with the Minister many times the need for that to be expanded to allow new providers as well as existing providers to purchase existing buildings, of which there are many in all of our counties. That would build capacity very quickly. It would be cheaper and more environmentally friendly to use what we have. There are areas in communities that have high demand for childcare and extensions to schools and community centres will not cut it for them.
Sentiment score: 0.15
In terms of building capacity, where has the idea of extensions to schools and community centres to create 2,300 places come from? I think of a school in Ballinasloe that has waited almost 30 years for a new build. Schools cannot build and develop what they need to and we are talking about extensions. We need childcare places tomorrow. Extensions to schools, if there is permission from schools in the first instance, involve planning permission and building work. How long will it take to create 2,300 places? I welcome the acquisition of State-led facilities from next year. How many will there be? How much further detail can the Minister provide in that regard? It will be hard to determine which areas will be chosen. Many areas will want such facilities. I ask the Minister to consider expanding the building blocks scheme to allow community groups, whether existing or new, to buy derelict vacant buildings in prime locations in towns like Boyle, County Roscommon. A detailed needs analysis has been carried out in the town and people have done their homework in terms of need. There is a high level of need in the area. Would the Minister consider such a proposal?
Sentiment score: 0.09