Childminding group welcomes McDowell comments

Lobby group Childminding Ireland has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell that a special childminder’s tax and social welfare incentive is under serious consideration for the forthcoming Budget.

"We believe this initiative, if implemented, will have a dramatic effect on improving the quality and accessibility of childminding," the group said today.

"It will encourage childminders, of which there are an estimated 37,000 into the formal economy."

Childminding Ireland is a national voluntary organisation for family home-based childcare. It was founded in 1983 by a small group of childminders providing family day care and has since expanded to represent childminders in Ireland.