Big free cash boost for thousands of Irish parents as Government plans to change how childminders are paid

THOUSANDS of families using childminders instead of crèches could see their bills drop under new laws that include childminders in childcare subsidies.

Childcare fees were cut by 25 percent this month after government subsidies announced in the last budget finally came into effect.

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Parents using crèches can take advantage of the National Childcare Scheme’s subsidies, which have increased dramatically this year from just 50 cents an hour to €1.40 an hour.

The government claims the average savings per child from the new NCS scheme, launched this month, is around €1,200 per year.

However, thousands of parents who use childminders instead of crèches are unable to benefit from the National Childcare Scheme at all.

Children’s Secretary Roderic O’Gorman brought proposals to the Cabinet that would address this anomaly and allow parents who pay childminders to receive the same childcare allowance.

There are currently an estimated 15,000 childminders working in Ireland but only 80 are officially registered with the Children and Family Agency TUSLA.

Parents who pay childminders who are not registered with TUSLA are not eligible for government childcare grants.

The new legislation means all childminders must register with TUSLA, which will make thousands more parents eligible for child care grants.

This new legislation will give childminders legal status and regulate the childminder part of the industry.

Cabinet has approved the proposals, but parents are not expected to see the benefits of the subsidies until next year.

Minister O’Gorman said: “Future regulation and support for childminders will help recognize the valuable role that childminders play and the service they provide to children and families.

“Importantly, it will also pave the way for opening up the national childcare program to childminders and expanding subsidies under that program to families using childminders.”

TUSLA FORCES

The new legislation will also give TUSLA officials the power to shut down child care providers who fail to comply with the regulations.

The minister wants to increase the power of TUSLA early years inspectors who oversee the child care industry.

The new laws would give these officials the power to close nurseries found to be in serious breach of rules and regulations.

The new laws would also give parents better access to important information related to daycare enforcement.