Last week, members of Childminding Ireland spoke to us in the audiovisual room. A number of childminders told us that they have made up their minds to leave childminding in the next few months, or are very strongly considering doing so. They said that many of their colleagues are also thinking of doing this. The reason for this is the proposed regulations that the Minister, Deputy Foley, is considering bringing forward. I urge the Minister to sit down and talk to childminders and the organisations that represent them before doing anything more. We already have 40,000 children under the age of three waiting for childminding or crèche places, and we are going to exacerbate that figure. All of those who spoke to us are members of Childminding Ireland, which means they are all insured, are registered with Tusla, have undertaken safeguarding training and are Garda vetted. I think that is more than sufficient to give parents peace of mind around who is taking care of their children. If these new regulations are introduced, it will mean they cannot take the children to the park across the road without risk-assessing the park, or take the children to a movie without a risk assessment first being carried out.

One childminder, who delivers the ECCE scheme in her home, said that she will no longer be able to offer AIM support to children with additional needs because you have to work alone under these new regulations, which means she will not be able to employ someone like an SNA to assist her in that situation. This will exclude children with additional needs from receiving this care in the home. It is the choice of many parents to have their children cared for in someone else's home. They want the homely atmosphere and the freedom of the childminder being able to bring their children to different activities, with their permission of course. They do not need a risk assessment.

There is also the possibility of rates being imposed on childminders, and their names and addresses being put up on the Tusla website. None of these measures are necessary. If the system is not broken, do not fix it.