Mid Ulster childminders will be able to care for up to eight children

MID Ulster councillors have approved a recommendation to allow home-based registered childminders to care for up to eight children under the age of 12, in line with new Department of Health regulations coming into effect on November 9, 2026.

Addressing Planning Committee members at their October 6 meeting, principal planning officer, Phelim Marrion, explained that the council’s existing guidance limited the number to six, reflecting previous Department of Health advice.

“From November 9, 2026, a registered childminder will be permitted to care for up to eight children under the age of 12.

“Our guidance sets out that there is a home-working provision for someone who may be carrying out childminding within their property. The number set there is six, which coincided with the Department’s advice.

“So, in relation to going forward from November 9, with the Health Trust increasing their numbers to eight, we’re proposing that members agree that our advice to anyone who is asking about childminding is that the number [now allowed] is eight.”

Committee chair Councillor Gavin Bell (Sinn Féin, Cookstown DEA) welcomed the report, saying: “It’s a common-sense approach and it definitely will help all of our community right across the North moving forward.”

Councillor Dan Kerr (Independent, Torrent DEA) also supported the recommendation, reading out comments from a local childminder who said the current requirement to seek planning permission to increase numbers from six to eight created unnecessary administrative and financial hurdles.

The childminder argued that other councils had removed the requirement and urged Mid Ulster to follow suit, highlighting growing demand for reliable childcare for working families.

Councillor Clement Cuthbertson (DUP, Dungannon DEA) sought clarification on whether the Planning Department would provide written confirmation that planning permission was not required.

Mr Marrion said each case would have to be assessed individually, depending on the property’s size, the number of children and the rooms used for childminding.

He explained: “It’s not something we can just say ‘Carte blanche, you don’t require planning permission’. It comes down to a planning officer’s judgement in relation to all of the issues that are set out there.”

He added that childminding eight children in a one-bedroom apartment or a two-bedroom house could result in a change of use, whereas using one bedroom in a four-bedroom dwelling might meet the guidance.

Councillor Cuthbertson raised concerns about potential delays and asked whether applicants would need to submit applications or have officers inspect their properties.

Lead Planning Officer Karen Doyle said the situation was unchanged, despite the increase in the Health Trust’s permitted numbers.

She explained that while the council could offer advice, a definitive answer would require an application or a certificate of lawful development.

“It’s like everything, it takes time. It’s an application, at the end of the day, that won’t change,” she said.

Ms Doyle added that the department had a couple of applications from registered childminders ready for decisions and believed there had been a quick turnaround.

She also said cases involving grant or funding deadlines could be prioritised if applicants made a case to authorised officers.

The recommendation to approve the new guidance was seconded by Councillor Bell.