Minister to postpone mandatory registration deadline for childminders

Minister Norma Foley: 'I will be making an announcement on this in the near future, looking to ensure childminders have the time and space they need.' File picture: PA

Children's minister Norma Foley is to extend a mandatory registration deadline for childminders which was due to be introduced in September next year.

It is estimated that there are 13,000 childminders across the country who care for children in their own home. By the end of August only 202 childminders were registered with Tusla, while a further 878 childminders have completed the pre-registration training.

"The childminding regulations are currently under review but preliminary findings from the consultation suggest childminders want more time before mandatory registration, which was due to be introduced in September next year," said Ms Foley. 

"I will be making an announcement on this in the near future, looking to ensure childminders have the time and space they need."

Parents whose childminders are registered with Tusla can access financial supports through the national childcare scheme. There is also a core funding scheme pilot for childminders, which has been ongoing for several years. It provides financial support to a small group of childminders.

An improved childminders’ tax break was announced as part of Budget 2027 which will increase from €15,000 to €20,000 in a bid to bring more childminders into the system.

Around 53,000 children are cared for by childminders in their own home, representing 8% of children aged under five and 4% of those aged 5-12.

The European Commission previously noted in 2019 that Ireland was the only European country with a mostly unregulated childminding sector.

Under regulations rolled out in 2024, childminders registering with Tusla need to undergo pre-registration training and Garda vetting, and are expected to hold insurance for their services.

Registered childminders are allowed to care for a maximum of six children, only two of whom can be under 15 months old. The department noted that live-in nannies or au pairs remain exempt from the regulations as in such cases the parent is deemed to be the employer.

Applying to be registered does not prevent a working childminder from continuing to care for children while the registration is being processed. The regulations also have no required curriculum for a childminder, nor do they demand fixed operating hours, sleeping times, or meal plans for the children being cared for.

A review of these regulations had been promised by 2028 under the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028.

However, acting on feedback received from childminders and childminding representative organisations, Ms Foley brought the review forward and announced it in June, to ensure there was enough time to implement any changes that might arise from the review, before the end of the transition period.

Preliminary findings were delivered at the end of last month, with the final report due at the end of October.

Ms Foley has already indicated that the transition period will be extended based on feedback received from childminders and relevant stakeholders as outlined in the preliminary findings, and that an announcement on this will be made in the near future.

• Elaine Loughlin, political editor