The rapid increase in the number of families where both parents work outside the home has created a huge need for professional childcare. Existing facilities are not sufficient to meet the demand and the number of children who will need to be cared for by childminders is expected to continue rising.

Groups involved in the provision of childcare such as the National Child minding Association of Ireland are keen to encourage a high standard of professionalism among their members.

"We were established in 1983 and have over 1,000 childminders, 96% of whom have some form of training," says the association's chief executive, Patricia Murray.

"We are aware of parents who are going frantic trying to find a childminder for September and we are trying to help as best we can. We would particularly welcome enquiries from childminders who might be interested in becoming members of our Association. "Over the next few months we will be putting our training package up on the web (the website address is www.Childmindingirl.com.) where it will be accessible to all and we would encourage people to investigate the site and to see what we are offering.

It's a very good training programme which takes account of people's life experience,["] Murray says.

Frustration with what it sees as Government inaction over child care prompted the launch of the Childcare 2000 campaign in May. The campaign represents a number of organisations with an interest in the issue such as the National Women's Council of Ireland, the Children's Nurseries Association and the Irish Pre-school Playgroups Association.

The campaign is lobbying for the provision of quality, regulated childcare services and it is looking to Budget 2000 to provide the necessary funding for this.

"Childcare has consistently been passed from committee to working group, to committee. The Government must stop playing pass-the-parcel with the issue," says Noreen Byrne of Campaign 2000.

"Collectively the organisations which have built this campaign are determined to ensure that Budget 2000 provides substantial expenditure for childcare,["] she says.

At present the Government's working group on a national childcare strategy is meeting at inter-departmental level to consider the issues as a whole.

Its task is to cost, evaluate and prioritise action on a number of childcare related issues. Its report is expected within the next few weeks.

For those interested in embarking on some form of childcare-related training there are a number of options.

Night courses begin at schools and colleges around the country next month and while the subject matter varies from venue to venue, topics normally covered include parenting, child psychology and child development.

More formalised training is available from St Nicholas' Montessori college and from the School of Practical Childcare both of which are members of AONTAS.

St Nicholas Montessori was established in 1970 and it is an Irish-owned college offering a range of courses designed both for school leavers and mature students. For example, a mature student could opt for a part-time modular diploma which they could take over a period of years while there is also a one year diploma in early childhood education aimed at graduates.

The School of Practical Childcare was set up in 1986 and it caters for over 1,000 students a year on a variety of childcare courses.

Many of its courses are run on an outreach basis at centres throughout Ireland. For example, its foundation course in childcare and creche work is available at 10 locations including all the major cities.

It involves one night a week for 20 weeks.

The school also offers a number of distance learning courses on topics such as childminding, childcare studies and after school care.

School principal Anne Clinch says there is a huge demand for training which she sees as a very positive development from the point of view of improving the quality of childcare provided.

"It is a huge responsibility minding someone else's children and minders need to know what they are doing and how to do it safely," she says. "They also need to know about child development and about how to set up play structures which will benefit the child. "Childminding is not about babysitting. It is about giving the best care to a child with all that involves from nurturing and educational perspectives."

Contact Points: National Child minding Association of Ireland, Patricia Murray (01) 287 5619. Childcare 2000, Anne O'Donnell (01) 661 5268. School of Practical Childcare (01) 288 6994. St Nicholas Montessori (01) 280 6064.