Why don't childminders want to register?

Junadl

I'm looking into becoming a childminder and have read online that an overwhelming majority don't register.

The reasons I'm thinking are the prsi payment of 500.. Is that the only reason?

I'm registering with childminding.ie for 155 which includes insurance and getting garda vetted.

Do I have to register as self employed?! I know I can earn up to 15000 tax free. Are there any other fees before I start?

amtc

Claiming social welfare as well...

srsly78

Junadl wrote: »

Do I have to register as self employed?! I know I can earn up to 15000 tax free. Are there any other fees before I start?

Yes you have to register. Yes you have to pay tax! The figure you quoted is only effectively tax free for purposes of income tax - there is also usc and prsi which must be paid. Be very careful with statements like that, this is how bad information spreads.

Even if you have zero tax to pay you must still declare all your earnings.

GalwayGrrrrrl

amtc wrote: »

Claiming social welfare as well...

Agreed- I'd say the majority of unregistered childminders keep it that way to stay under the radar for social welfare. I presume you can't claim jobseekers or disability benefit if you have registered as Self employed.

Junadl

amtc wrote: »

Claiming social welfare as well...

I can't blame them to be honest! With rates of a fiver per hour!!

Junadl

srsly78 wrote: »

Yes you have to register. Yes you have to pay tax! The figure you quoted is only effectively tax free for purposes of income tax - there is also usc and prsi which must be paid. Be very careful with statements like that, this is how bad information spreads.

Even if you have zero tax to pay you must still declare all your earnings.

I don't think anything I said was incorrect. Thanks for your reply

Shybride2016

What you refer to when you say "register" is registering with Tusla, which you can only do as a childminder when you mind 4 kids at any one time. If you are a Tusla-registered childminder then you are subject to inspections and regulations same as a crèche, which in itself is a discussion for another time!

In my experience, many childminders don't actually look after this many children therefore are excluded from Tusla registration at present.

The €15,000 tax-free exemption is only accessible to childminders who are voluntarily notified to their local childcare committee and who look after three children at any one time.

Membership of childminding Ireland is just that, membership not registration.

Many childminders I know cannot look after 4 children as their own preschool age children (0-6 years of age) are counted in their numbers of which you can only mind a maximum of 5 at any given time, in accordance with the current childcare regulations for childminders.

For example, if you have two preschool aged children of your own, then you can only childmind three others, therefore excluding you from Tusla-registration which is what is meant by "registered".

Anecdotally there are of course many many childminders in this country minding more than these numbers of children, without adequate childminding insurance, Garda vetting, first aid certificate etc but it is the parents' responsibility to check these things out when looking for a childminder as many parents in my experience don't actually ask nor even care about these things as long as the price is right for them.

Such is life in a non-subsidised childcare "system" unfortunately, where parents struggle hugely to pay for childcare and often seek to pay as little as possible without making sure their chosen childminder has insurance and all the other things I have mentioned.

Edited to add that yes, as a self-employed childminder you must register with revenue. If you are eligible for the tax exemption you must still submit a yearly tax return and pay €500 PRSI.

Membership of childminding Ireland will include your insurance as you have already, advise you re Garda vetting and give you access to paediatric first aid training also.

Best of luck with your new venture as a childminder, it can be an extremely rewarding job!

Junadl

I will only be taking on one child so does the same apply?

Shybride2016

Junadl wrote: »

I will only be taking on one child so does the same apply?

If you're minding one child then you cannot avail of the tax exemption but you must still register with Revenue as self-employed and submit a yearly tax return.

You can claim certain expenses such as your insurance, equipment, a portion of your food bill (if you're providing the child's food) and other expenses too so you won't be paying tax on the full amount of your income.

Revenue are really helpful in this regard and Childminding Ireland will also have a list of what you can claim as expenses to give you an idea of what's included.

Hope that's of help to you.

happypants

Junadl wrote: »

I can't blame them to be honest! With rates of a fiver per hour!!

Per child... per day. I know of a girl who's cleaning up, she has 5 kids Monday to Friday 8-5. Zero childminding qualifications and on social welfare.

Over €1000 A WEEK tax free. Hardly to be pitied.

Shybride2016

happypants wrote: »

Per child... per day. I know of a girl who's cleaning up, she has 5 kids Monday to Friday 8-5. Zero childminding qualifications and on social welfare.

Over €1000 A WEEK tax free. Hardly to be pitied.

These are not the childminders I know and I am in contact with, although there are a huge number who do this which is infuriating. Equally so are the parents who choose these childminders as they are contributing to the problem imo.

If someone is minding 5 children then they should be Tusla registered, adhering to all the regulations, paying tax, paying insurance etc and certainly not claiming social welfare at the same time. From a safety point of view that childminder is taking huge risks, as well as the parents of the children she is minding.

The whole childcare sector in Ireland is in crisis due to the expense to families and the sooner something is done to improve it drastically the better.

happypants

Shybride2016 wrote: »

These are not the childminders I know and I am in contact with, although there are a huge number who do this which is infuriating. Equally so are the parents who choose these childminders as they are contributing to the problem imo.

If someone is minding 5 children then they should be Tusla registered, adhering to all the regulations, paying tax, paying insurance etc and certainly not claiming social welfare at the same time. From a safety point of view that childminder is taking huge risks, as well as the parents of the children she is minding.

The whole childcare sector in Ireland is in crisis due to the expense to families and the sooner something is done to improve it drastically the better.

I totally agree. I wouldn't do it nor would I send my little one to a childminder like this. I'm happy enough to pay a bit extra to send my daughter to a Montessori and after a few months I can see her coming on leaps and bounds with language and counting etc it's worth the money in my eyes.

I'm fortunate enough to only need childcare for the purpose of socialising my little girl, I work part time flexible shifts so I can plan working with my husband and my parents help out too. We'd be lost without them. I don't know how families can afford full time childcare to be honest it's extortion and the staff in chreches aren't even paid well. It's a massive money making business for the owners but the profits aren't being passed down to staff or parents. The whole system needs an overhaul. In the U.K. Schools offer after school clubs for parents who work which is a great idea, the kids do homework, have dinner and have playtime with their friends.

The girl I know of is playing a risky game in what she's doing and it will probably catch up on her and she could be up in a lot of trouble.

Junadl

happypants wrote: »

Per child... per day. I know of a girl who's cleaning up, she has 5 kids Monday to Friday 8-5. Zero childminding qualifications and on social welfare.

Over €1000 A WEEK tax free. Hardly to be pitied.

Wow! Shocking stuff. That's just wrong but I think parents are forced into the cheapest route for survival! Everyone is just trying to keep their heads above water.

Junadl

When filling out the garda vetting form I'm putting Self employed Professional Childminder as "Role being vetted for". I hope that will be accepted

Shybride2016

Junadl wrote: »

When filling out the garda vetting form I'm putting Self employed Professional Childminder as "Role being vetted for". I hope that will be accepted

Yes that's fine.

the_syco

Junadl wrote: »

Wow! Shocking stuff. That's just wrong but I think parents are forced into the cheapest route for survival! Everyone is just trying to keep their heads above water.

If you're working 5 days a week as self employed, I'm unsure if the normal Social Welfare will be available to you.

Junadl

the_syco wrote: »

If you're working 5 days a week as self employed, I'm unsure if the normal Social Welfare will be available to you.

I'm not on any welfare but I meant parents needing cheap childcare might opt for an unregistered minder, if they were cheaper.