Vol. 495 No. 4
244 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the urgent need for a quality State funded cre che service in areas of disadvantage; his views on whether there is a huge need in these areas; his further views on whether the private sector will meet this need; the plans, if any, he has in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20461/98]
Health boards provide financial supports for certain pre-school services which cater for children who are regarded as being at risk or disadvantaged. This function is in keeping with the boards' overall responsibilities under the Child Care Act, 1991, in regard to the promotion of the welfare of children and provisions of family support services. The policy of supporting certain pre-school services will continue and may include financial assistance to upgrade premises associated with such services.
245 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to regulate the private childminding industry which is not covered by the provisions of the Child Care Act, 1991; the further plans, if any, he has to introduce a system of registration of childminders as operates in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20462/98]
The Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations, 1996, which give effect to Part VII of the Child Care Act, 1991, apply to pre-schools, playgroups, day nurseries, cre ches, childminders looking after more than three children and other similar services which cater for children under six years of age. Childminders looking after not more than three children were exempted from the provisions of Part VII of the Act in order to avoid interfering with arrangements made by working parents with a relative or neighbour, to look after their children for them. The regulations provide for a notification rather than a registration system.
It is intended that the operation of the regulations will be reviewed after three years, with a view to effecting any changes considered necessary at that stage. I have recently initiated a review of the inspection process through the working group to monitor the implementation of Part VII of the Child Care Act.
I have no proposals to introduce further regulations in this area. However, the expert group on child care, established under Partnership 2000, to devise a national framework for the development of the child care sector, is examining the possible regulation of the child care and childminding industry in its broadest sense. The expert group, under the auspices of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is expected to finalise its report in December 1998. The Department of Health and Children is represented on the expert group and on a number of sub-groups of the expert group.
