The reason for the dissolution of the network is down to the fact that many committee members could no longer afford to work as childminders.
Following the reform of the childcare voucher scheme, many crèches have been able to offer affordable childcare, effectively putting many childminders out of business.
Changes to the law have made it more difficult for childminders to become accredited childcare providers.
The network said in their post that although the law was designed to flush out those working illegally, in reality it has forced a number of childminders to close their business as they can no longer afford to cover running costs.
The government subsidies cover up to €6 per hour for a crèche, but just €3.75 per hour for a childminder. Furthermore, the promised 20 free hours per week are far more difficult for childminders to offer as part of their services.
The number of practising childminders fell from 720 in 2012 to 550 by mid-2019, said the Dageseltern Network.
The Ministry of Education ascribed the drop in childminders to a number of people leaving the profession after tighter quality requirements were brought in.
Although the Dageselteren Network is now no more, its former president is still pushing for equal subsidies for childminders, to increase the offer of childcare available to parents.
