An MEP candidate from Southern Ireland claims that the new regulations could result in the bankruptcy of childminders

Ní Mhurchú fears that new babysitting laws will push hundreds of babysitters into the gray market or, worse, out of business, leading to a crisis in our childcare sector…

Southern Ireland Fianna Fáil European Parliament candidate Cynthia Ní Mhurchú has called on Ecology Minister Roderic O’Gorman not to inadvertently force childminders out of business under the upcoming Childcare Regulations 2024. Ní Mhurchú calls on Minister O ‘Gorman to reconsider the concerns of current childminders ahead of the implementation of a raft of new childcare regulations, which Ní Mhurchú says 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 spoke to one childminder who has left the company altogether because she believes the new regulations will be unworkable and could lead to a crisis for parents of young children across the country who depend on childminder.

The National Childcare Action Plan 2021-2028 sets out a phased approach to the regulation and registration of childminders. The most important element of work under the National Action Plan was the development of new regulations specific to childminders

Childminders who spoke to Ní Mhurchú said the regulations would be too burdensome for small-scale carers.

“One caregiver told me that the new rules will force caregivers who have been caring for children for 10 years to complete advanced first aid training, which requires two days off work and costs almost €300. In many cases, they already have pediatric first aid provided. Another told me that the new regulations would require child care providers to carry fire and theft insurance, over and above the existing insurance offered to child care providers. This is an additional cost and burden.”

The third regulation that childminders have raised in Ní Mhurchú concerns proposed regulation 12, which imposes a limit of 6 children in his care at any time, including his own children until they complete primary school. Guardians believe that their own children should not be counted when they start primary school at around age 5.

“If babysitters have to count their own children, this will automatically reduce the maximum number of children they can look after, making their business less profitable,” she said.

Ní Mhurchú described some of the proposed laws as bureaucracy disguised as child protection.

“Regulation 16 requires the matron to prepare a manual setting out its policies and procedures. This is completely unnecessary and disproportionate to the work of a person who takes care of children in his own home and does not run a corporation.

Ní Mhurchú stated that regulation of the sector is welcome but must be proportionate:

“The goal is to protect children. We can do this effectively without introducing a raft of new bureaucracy that could have the unintended consequence of pushing child care providers into the black market or going out of business altogether.”

Under the proposed regulations, childminders will have to register with Tusla by 2028. The regulations are to come into force before the summer break.

“Most existing childminders are already insured, Garda-checked and highly experienced, so we risk losing them if the industry becomes over-regulated. I just want Minister O’Gorman to sit down with ordinary childminders again and come up with a set of regulations that are easy and straightforward, but protect our children and the industry“

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