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	Fianna F&aacute;il says Zappone scheme set to &#39;backfire&#39;</p>
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	The Government&#39;s new childcare scheme has come under fire again after it emerged several counties currently have no child-minding services eligible to avail of the State subsidy.</p>
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	New figures show that of the tens of thousands of childminders across the country, just 119 are registered with the child and family agency Tusla.</p>
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	Under Children&#39;s Minister Katherine Zappone&#39;s new scheme, child-minding services must be registered with Tusla in order to qualify for a subsidy.</p>
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	But the figures, obtained by Fianna F&aacute;il&#39;s children&#39;s spokesperson Anne Rabbitte, show five counties have no registered childminders whatsoever.</p>
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	These are Wicklow, Longford, Laois, Offaly and Leitrim.</p>
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	Several other counties, such as Kilkenny, Carlow, Westmeath, Kerry, Monaghan and Roscommon, have just one or two childminders registered with the agency.</p>
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	And in Dublin - where there are over 100,000 children under the age of five - there are just 18 registered childminders.</p>
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	The vast number of unregistered childminders has raised fears that thousands of families will not be able to avail of reduced childcare costs - unless they move their children to a cr&egrave;che or other registered facility.</p>
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	At present, only childminders who are minding four preschool children from different families are required to notify and register with Tusla.</p>
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	However, there are no regulatory requirements in relation to the qualifications held by childminders.</p>
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	To undergo a registration with Tusla, childminders must also be garda vetted. This can take several months.</p>
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	As part of the vetting procedure, businesses must have their premises inspected. They can then avail of a tax exemption up to &euro;15,000 per year.</p>
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	It is understood Ms Zappone has now contacted Childminding Ireland, the representative body for childminders, and requested it comes back with a set of proposals to address the issue within the first six months of the year.</p>
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	But last night, Ms Rabbitte said she has deep concerns that the scheme will now &quot;backfire&quot; given the large number of unregistered childminders.</p>
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	The Galway East TD also said she believes the issue could eventually lead to cr&egrave;ches raising the price they charge parents by a significant degree.</p>
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	&quot;I have fears that the scheme will backfire, as there is nothing to prevent cr&egrave;ches from hiking up their fees in the face of huge new demand for childcare places.</p>
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	&quot;Currently about 80,000 children under five are taken care of by unregistered childminders - who will not be eligible for payment with this subsidy.</p>
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	&quot;This will create huge new demand for new childcare places, which will undoubtedly create price inflation for childcare fees,&quot; Ms Rabbitte told the Irish Independent.</p>
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	The Fianna F&aacute;il deputy also expressed concern that the scheme will put major pressure on cr&egrave;che places.</p>
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	&quot;Minister Zappone&#39;s scheme allows very little choice or flexibility over childcare arrangements. It also relies heavily on availability of cr&egrave;ches in an area,&quot; Ms Rabbitte said.</p>
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	&quot;We know that cr&egrave;ches are already struggling to meet demand for places arising from the expansion of the ECCE scheme.</p>
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	&quot;But this new scheme could double or triple demand for childcare places in cr&egrave;ches, nurseries and montessoris,&quot; she added.</p>
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	A spokesman for Ms Zappone last night said all efforts are being made to get as many unregistered childminders on board.</p>
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	The spokesman added that Childminding Ireland has been contacted and that discussions are ongoing.</p>
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	Ms Zappone&#39;s scheme, which includes a universal childcare payment and subsidised childcare, was one of the centrepieces of this month&#39;s Budget.</p>
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	The universal payment will see all families earning more than &euro;47,500 getting a payment of 50c per hour on their childcare costs for children under three.</p>
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	Meanwhile, families earning below that threshold will be able to avail of subsidies for childcare for children all the way up to 15 years, on a sliding scale depending on their income and the age of the child.</p>
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	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 20th October 2016)</p>
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	<a href="http://www.independent.ie/business/budget/news/no-childminders-registered-in-five-counties-35145673.html">http://www.independent.ie/business/budget/news/no-childminders-registered-in-five-counties-35145673.html</a></p>
