AQW 31693/22-27

Ms Kate Nicholl
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 22/09/2025
Answered On Date: 07/10/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health for an update on the progress of the review of Minimum Standards for Childminding and Day Care for Children Under Age 12, following the closure of the public consultation on adult child ratios and the requirement for all prospective childcare workers to provide a health declaration countersigned by their GP.

Answer:

The consultation exercise on the review of Minimum Standards for Childminding and Day Care closed on Friday 20 June 2025. All responses have been collated and are currently being reviewed by the department. Once completed a consultation report is to be produced.

If it is considered that any urgent changes should be made to the Minimum Standards in advance of the completion of the wider review, these changes will be communicated through a Departmental Press Release, a Circular to HSC Trusts and a letter to all childcare providers.

The Review Reference Group will also be considering the wider Minimum Standards in detail and assisting with the drafting of a redesigned set of Standards for consultation in 2026.