Tusla gets extra €1m to inspect childminding services
Childminding services will be under added pressure next year, when 48,000 extra children enter the system as part of the affordable childcare scheme, announced in Tuesday’s budget.
Some 23,000 additional children will enter the childcare system under the targeted supports, with a further 25,000 joining when universal support is introduced next September.
Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone is confident the additional capacity exists. “So, we expect that there is room for the capacity to grow within the system, but there will be challenges and we are preparing for those in different ways,” she said yesterday.
The minister said she was very aware of the concern the scheme would significantly increase the requirement for Garda vetting of childcare staff, and said she had been working with the Garda Vetting Bureau in the last few months to reduce the time taken to vet employees.
Fewer than 1% (150) of all childminders are registered with Tusla, and the minister’s department will be encouraging more childminders to register.
The regulations state to register with Tusla, someone has to be minding more than three unrelated children outside the children’s home.
Childminding Ireland, the national body for childminders, has been asked to see how more childminders could register and avail of the scheme.
Ms Zappone and her department are forming a working group to establish the supports and reforms needed for the sector.
