Why has the Childminding Regulations 2024 been released?
Despite most aspects of childcare being stringently regulated, there was a considerable omission. Nannies providing care for infants and children in their personal residences weren’t covered. In 2019, the European Commission pointed out that Ireland was the sole nation with a large, unsupervised nanny industry.
What’s the size of the nanny application in childcare?
The latest census shows that 53,000 children up to 14 years old are overseen by nannies. As this sector is uncontrolled, accurate data on the number of nannies in Ireland isn’t available. Tusla, however, estimates the figure is around 13,000. The fact that only 70 nannies have registered with Tusla so far, all of whom cater to seven children or more, is telling.
What’s the necessity?
Without proper oversight, it’s impossible to ascertain if adequate standards are being maintained, and whether children are being nurtured in a secure and suitable environment. Presently, official police checks and safeguard training don’t exist, along with inspections and concrete knowledge about each service’s operations beyond what’s hearsay. The new regulations will ensure a consistent and transparent approach, prioritising child safety.
Has it been challenging to devise an effective plan?
To put it succinctly, yes. As typically microbusinesses, nanny services are mostly single-handed operations. Virtually no one welcomed the regulatory demands of paperwork, compulsory courses on child safety and first aid, police verification of adult family members, insurance certificates, constraints on headcount, property stipulations, and the possibility of inspection. Predictably, the initial draft was met with considerable pushback. However, the Department of Children assure they took these grievances into consideration, resulting in momentous modifications in the regulations.
What are the main features of the new regulations?
The rules are applicable solely to individuals who provide child care in the home of child minders, and do not pertain to nannies or au pairs caring for children in the parent’s home. Childminders can look after a maximum of six children, with no more than two children being under 15 months of age. This maximum cap decreases by each of the childminder’s own children who are also being cared for.
The new regulations necessitate Garda vetting for the childminder and all adults living in the home. Moreover, earning a first-aid certificate, procuring insurance, attending a concise training session (seven hours), and completing an e-learning programme centred on child protection are also made compulsory. Tusla undertaking a pre-registration inspection, inclusive of a house visit, is another requirement.
The proposed expenditure is expected to be affordable, and not serve as a deterrent. The training and courses are freely available, and most childminders can be covered under standard home insurance policies. There will be an annual registration surcharge set at €40.
Comparatively, these regulations are significantly less taxing than those for a crèche. For instance, childminders have to provide appropriate indoor and outdoor spaces along with sleeping areas, but aren’t obligated to have special furniture or adhere to a curriculum. Guidelines around eating and sleeping are lenient too. Children can join family meals, as would naturally occur in a home-based set up.
Despite these changes being quite substantial, it is acknowledged that most childminding services are run by solitary operators. Therefore, a three-year exemption from registration will be provided during which preparations can be made.
The department remains hopeful that the majority of childminders will register within the three-year window. An attractive incentive is the subsidy – set at €2.14 per hour for each child – that will be offered, equating to around €5,000 annually for full-time care.