A childminder is a person who runs a childminding service looking after other people’s children (under the age of 15 years) for at least 2 hours per day, in the childminder’s own home. This definition does not apply to people who care for children in the children’s own home (such as nannies and au pairs). Childminders work by themselves and do not employ any other people to assist them with the children they are caring for.

In 2021, the Government launched the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021 – 2028. An important development in this plan is the introduction of new regulations specifically developed for childminders who work in their own homes. The regulations were published on the 19th of September 2024 and came into operation on the 30th of September. From this date, childminders can apply for registration with Tusla. Once the childminder has been successfully registered and then signs up to the National Childcare Scheme, parents of children in these services will be able to apply for the National Childcare Scheme in the same way that other parents currently can when their children attend centre based early years services. 

There are three main reasons why the Government has introduced these changes. First and foremost, they want the care provided to children in a childminder’s home to be of a high standard, and for parents to be reassured that their children are being safely cared for. Secondly, they want to make sure more parents are supported with childcare costs. Thirdly, they want to ensure that childminders receive recognition and support for the important work that they do. Many other countries already regulate childminding services in this way.  

The regulations make sure that childminders are valued for their contribution to the childcare sector in Ireland. They help to support childminders to make sure children in their care are safe and being well cared for. By registering as a childminder, you will also be able to apply for government funding schemes.

The regulations help to make sure children are safer and are being well cared for, which also provides assurance to parents. Once a childminder is registered, and then signs up to the National Childcare Scheme, parents can apply for the National Childcare Scheme so their childcare costs will be reduced. Parents will also be able to look at the childminding register to see who is childminding in their area, and this will make it easier for parents who are looking for a registered childminding service.

Childminding is governed by the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Childminding Services) Regulations 2024. These regulations state the following:

A childminder shall ensure that:
(a) there are no more than 6 children in the care of the childminder at any given time, and
that there are no more than 2 children under the age of 15 months in
the care of the childminder at any given time.

Yes, A childminder shall ensure that the childminding service is adequately insured. 

Yes, as part of the registration application process a pre-registration assessment visit will take place. This will involve an Early Years Inspector calling to your home and checking that everything is ready for children to be cared for safely.

These visits to your home will not be the same as inspections that take place in larger settings, such as creches. Our approach to the regulation of childminders in their own home is one of ‘supportive compliance’ which means we will work with you to help you to achieve compliance with the childminding regulations.

There is no expectation that you will be asked to make any changes to your home. Your home will be fully respected as such. To ensure your home is safe for children, you may, for example, be asked to fix things that are broken such as a fence in your garden, or to ensure safe storage for cleaning equipment. Most childminders will not have to make any changes as their homes are already safe and suitable for children. 

The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2024 provides a transition period of three years for the new childminding regulations. This means that from the 30th of September 2024, childminders will be able to register with Tusla but it will not be mandatory until the end of the transition period in September 2027. Childminders who mind 3 or fewer preschool children and 6 or fewer children in total will continue to be exempt for the duration of the transitional period. Only childminders who are minding more than 3 preschool children or more than 6 children in total will be required to register immediately.  

If you are planning to register as a childminder, you will first need to contact your local City and County Childcare Committee at www.myccc.ie. You need to arrange to undertake pre-registration training which provides all the information you need to understand what is required to apply to register and explains the registration process.  

From the 30th of September 2024 childminders can apply to the Early Years Inspectorate for registration using the dedicated Tusla Childminding Portal. There is a link to the Tusla portal available on our website or you can go directly to the portal at childminding.tusla.ie. This is where you submit your registration application. We have also provided comprehensive, user-friendly guidance materials on our website about how to register, the requirements for registration and what you can expect from your initial pre-registration assessment visit. 

Yes, as part of the registration application process a pre-registration assessment visit will take place. This will involve an Early Years Inspector calling to your home and checking that everything is ready for children to be cared for safely.  

These visits to your home will not be the same as inspections that take place in larger settings, such as creches. Our approach to the regulation of childminders in their own home is one of ‘supportive compliance’ which means we will work with you to help you to achieve compliance with the childminding regulations.  

Supportive Compliance

Supportive Compliance places an emphasis on guidance, engagement and support. Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate apply this approach to childminders, acknowledging their unique home-based setting, and are mindful of the private family environment and first-time regulation concerns of childminders. 

The aim is to help childminders comply with regulations, address any issues through constructive discussions to ensure children’s health, safety, and well-being. 

Will I need to close my service during the pre-registration visit? 

No. The time of the pre-registration assessment visit will be agreed between you and the inspector in advance. This assessment visit can take place when you have children present. 

Will my pre—registration assessment report be published on the Tusla website?

Once your application for registration is successful, the pre-registration assessment report outlining your compliance with the relevant regulations will be published on the Tusla website.  

No, you can continue to run your service as normal while you are applying for registration during the 3-year transition period.  

A childminder will agree rates individually with each family according to requirements, i.e. number of children to be minded, number of meals provided, transport to or from school etc.

Hourly rates are dependent on number of factors such as the number of hours that you may be engaging a childminder; the qualifications that the childminder holds and the years of experience that the childminder has. Services such as collection and drop off at school/other extra-curricular activities (such as visits/trips) and whether or not provision of food is something you require will also effect the cost of engaging a childminder.

It is important that you discuss all these items with a childminder and agree on a clear pricing structure before engaging services to avoid any confusion further down the line. Many childminders will be able to draft up a simple contract between the childminder and the parent which will clearly outline the pricing structure and what is or isn’t included in the price agreed.               

Childminders who mind children in their own home are usually self-employed and liable for their own tax/PRSI. However, if the childminder minds children in your home, they are then classed as a Nanny, and then they are an employee for whom you must pay all relevant tax and social insurance contributions. For more information go to:  http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/types_of_employment/full_time_employment/domestic_workers_in_ireland.ht

While both a Childminder and a Nanny offer home based care, a Childminder works in their own home, where a Nanny works in the family home. Typically, a Childminder is self-employed, whereas a Nanny is considered an employee, and her employer, the family, needs to take care of taxes, PRSI etc.  For more information on Nannies, go to: Citizens Information 

Speak to your childminder now and ask them about their plans for registration. Remember they can register at any point over the next 3 years, and they must be registered after 3 years. You can keep up to date with developments by checking the Early Years Inspectorate website regularly and you will also be hearing more about this in the media. If you want to ask us any questions you can email cm.registration@tusla.ie and we will do our best to answer your specific questions.  

Once your childminder is registered with the Early Years Inspectorate and the National Childcare Scheme, you will be able to apply to access the National Childcare Scheme.   

You can direct your childminder to the Early Years Inspectorate website or ask them to contact their local City and County Childcare Committee if they have any questions.

The childminding regulations only apply to childminders caring for children in the childminder’s own home. If you employ a childminder to come into your home every day, or if you have a live-in nanny or au-pair, they are exempt from the childminding regulations, and you do not need to do anything.