Ireland South MEP candidate says new regulations risk putting childminders out of business

Ní Mhurchú is concerned that new regulations for childminders will push hundreds of childminders into the black economy, or worse, out of the business, leading to a crisis in our childcare sector…

Ireland South Fianna Fáil MEP candidate Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has called on Green Minister Roderic O’Gorman not to inadvertently push childminders out of business with the upcoming Childminding Regulations 2024. Ní Mhurchú is calling on Minister O’Gorman to revisit the concerns of existing childminders before implementing a raft of new regulations around childminding which Ní Mhurchú feels could lead to an exodus of childminders from the industry.

According to Ní Mhurchú, the stakes are very high:

“The stakes are very high. This morning I was speaking to one child minder who has exited the business entirely because she feels that the new regulations will be unworkable and may lead to a crisis for parents of young children across the country who depend on childminders”

The National Action Plan for Childminding 2021 – 2028 sets out a phased approach to the regulation and registration of childminders. Central to work under the National Action Plan has been the development of new regulations that are specific to childminders

Childminders that have spoken to Ní Mhurchú have said that the regulations will be too onerous on small scale childminders.

“One childminder told me that the new regulations will force childminders who have been minding children for 10 years to complete an advanced first responders training course which requires them to take two days off work and costs close to €300. They already have paediatric first aid in many cases. Another told me that the new regulations will require childminders to get fire and theft insurance above and beyond the existing insurances that childminders have in place. This is an extra cost and burden”

A third regulation that childminders have raised concerns with Ní Mhurchú is around proposed regulation 12, which imposes a limit of 6 children in his or her care at any given time, including his or her own children until they have completed primary education. Childminders feel that their own children should not be counted once they enter primary education at around 5 years old.

“If childminders have to count their own children, then it will automatically reduce the maximum number of children they can look after – making their business less viable,” she said.

Ní Mhurchú described some of the proposed regulations as red tape dressed up as child protection.

“Regulation 16 requires the childminder to produce a handbook that outlines their policies and procedures. This is completely unnecessary and disproportionate to the work of a person who is minding children in their own home, not running a corporation”

Ní Mhurchú said that regulation of the sector is welcome, but it has to be proportionate:

“The idea is to protect children. We can do this effectively without introducing a raft of new red tape which may have the unintended consequence of driving childminders into the blackmarket or out of business altogether.”

Under the proposed regulations, childminders will have to register with Tusla before 2028. The rules are expected to be in place before the summer recess.

“Most existing childminders are already insured, Garda vetted and very experienced and we risk losing them if the industry becomes over regulated. I just want Minister O’ Gorman to sit down again with ordinary childminders and work out a set of regulations that are easy and uncomplicated but work to protect our children and the industry.”