‘A milestone in safe, af fordable childcare’
Now ALL carers for school-goers must sign with Tusla
Families can access financial benefits
FOR the first time in the State’s history, all care providers who look after school-age children must register with Tusla under new regulations. The Child and Family Agency Tusla began registration yesterday.
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone said the move was a ‘significant step forward in ensuring quality, school-age childcare’.
Minister Zappone said: ‘Today is another milestone in the development of quality, accessible and affordable early learning and care [for] school-age childcare in Ireland.
‘I am delighted that the new school-age childcare regulations have now commenced.
‘The new regulations, which require that all school-age childcare services be registered with Tusla, will help to ensure that children attend services that are suitable, of high quality, and safe.’ Minister Zappone signed the Childcare Support Act (Commencement) Order 2018 in December 2018, bringing into force key amendments to the Child Care Act 1991 in relation to the definition of school-age service.
This paved the way for regulations which will provide, for the first time in Ireland, for the registration of school-age childcare services, according to Tusla.
All services for children aged six to 15 years who are attending after school care must now be registered with Tusla from yesterday.
School-age services that are already registered with Tusla as pre-school services must apply for registration by August 18, while new services must apply for registration at least three months before opening.
Once registered, school-age childcare services will be able to participate in the forthcoming Affordable Childcare Scheme launching in late 2019.
This means families availing of these services will be able to access the financial benefits provided by the scheme.
Tusla’s national service director of children’s services regulation, Fiona McDonnell said: ‘The development of statutory regulation for school-age childcare is an exciting step in assuring parents that services for their children will meet the highest standards of care.
The regulations that came into force yesterday are preliminary regulations, according to the Department of Children.
Later this year the department will embark on a public consultation process on the development of comprehensive regulations and national quality standards for school-age childcare.
The income thresholds for the Affordable Childcare Scheme is set to increase this year under proposals announced in the budget, it was previously reported.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said at the time the base income threshold is being raised from €22,700 to €26,000.
The maximum income threshold will go from €47,500 to €60,000, and the multiple child deduction will increase from €3,800 to €4,300.