Childminders to face mandatory vetting and training under new proposal

The proposed changes were announced today.

New proposals put forward to Government will require childminders to go through inspections and mandatory training if it is passed. The proposals contained within a Government-commissioned report suggests introducing regulations that would require childminders who are providing more than two hours of paid care for children up to the age of 15 to be vetting and go through training. As it stands, just 120 of the roughly 35,000 childminders across the country are registered and the new proposals are to encourage the reminder to join them.

@KZapponeTD Pathway to a Quality Support and Assurance System for Childminding in Ireland”Minister Zappone – Speech at Launch of Report of the Working Group on Reforms and Supports for the Childminding Sector https://t.co/4Qau3WCpFn pic.twitter.com/AoTfrhfeRR

— WexfordCCC (@WxCoChildcare) March 27, 2018

New forms of tax relief on portions of their income and home grants are just some of the things they are using to encourage people to register. However, the proposals will also require minders to go through inspections, training and have additional insurance. Requirements would include first-aid training, written references, insurance, a level-five certificate in childminding, and Garda vetting. The proposed changes would exclude any relatives, who would fall under kinship care, au pairs and nannies also.