Thousands of childminders will have to register with Tusla under new proposals being put forward by the Government.

Children's Minister Katherine Zappone today launched a draft action plan focused on "improving access to high quality and affordable early learning and care".

Currently, there are only 81 childminders registered with Tusla - with most of the country's thousands of others exempt from registration.

The new plan proposes that "all paid, non-relative childminders who work in their own homes" will have to register, with exemptions remaining for relatives.

While it's estimated there are up to 19,000 childminders working here, the changes wouldn't apply to those working in a child's home.

It's believed the new requirements would see around 5,000 additional minders registered with Tusla.

In the longer term, the plan is also proposing that childminders will require specific qualifications.

It's also aiming to offer parents who use childminding services access to new subsidies.

A public consultation has been launched on the proposals.

Minister Zappone explained that childminders will have to have certain qualifications in the future, but specific details haven't been finalised.

She explained: "We don't know what those qualifications are yet - this is one of the key aspects of the public consultation.

"We're not going to say 'you have to have X [qualification] - we know that's of deep concern to the childminding sector, that somehow we're not acknowledging the value of experience etc...

"At the same time, we want to make sure that what we ultimately put in place allows them to continue to stay with us."

She said childminding hasn't received the support in deserves in terms of public funding or regulation, and the new plan is an effort to address that.

The consultation process will be remain open until 10th October, with the survey now available online.

Main image: Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone taking to the media as she launched the Draft Childminding Action Plan and Public Consultation Process. Photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie