Minster Zappone announces new action plan to make childcare affordable

Welcome news for parents.

Minister for Children Katherine Zappone revealed this week that she plans to put new rules in place for childminders across the country. These new rules aim to help more parents gain access to affordable childcare. Minister Zappone has said that under her new childminding action plan childminders will need to undergo fresh training and be Garda vetted as well as having their homes comply with basic standards. According to CSO data, there may be up to 19,000 childminders operating in Ireland but only 81 of them are registered with Tusla. The new plans include the hiring development officers who will encourage childminders to register with the Child and Family Agency. Hiring with a childminder registered with Tusla will mean that parents can avail of subsidies for childcare making it more affordable.

Minister Zappone launching Draft Childminding Action Plan for improving access to high quality and affordable early learning and care and school-age childcare through childminding #childcare pic.twitter.com/zJRposn8qK

— Department of Children and Youth Affairs (@DCYAPress) August 29, 2019

The minister also said that the safety of the children in childcare was also a large concern of hers particularly after the release of the RTÉ investigation into the Hyde and Seek creche chain. She hopes by more childminders becoming registered and availing of Garda vetting and training that parents will have a greater sense of ease. The childminding action plan proposes to bring childminders into the National Childcare Scheme which is due to come into effect this October.