asked the Minister for Health the regulations existing with regard to child-minding establishments in this country; and whether he will consider instituting legislation requiring all such establishments to be registered and subject to inspection by his Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Child-Minding Establishments.
3.
There is no legislation which requires the registration of child-minding establishments.
Voluntary agencies, particularly in the Eastern Health Board area, operate day nurseries in certain working-class districts to facilitate mothers who, by reason of economic necessity, have to go out to work and receive grants from the relevant health board to assist them. Such nurseries, because of the grant payable, are subject to inspection by officers of the health board.
I am aware that, particularly in the Dublin area, a considerable number of small nurseries are operated by private individuals and mothers pay an economic charge for the care of their children in them. The mothers concerned must be presumed to be responsible and of such a level of intelligence that they would not entrust their children to the persons running such nurseries unless they were satisfied with the conditions obtaining in them. In these circumstances, I do not feel that action on my part or on the part of health boards is called for. If, however, the Deputy or any organisation interested in the matter, can show that there is a need for inspection or registration I will be prepared to reconsider the matter.
Can the Minister state if inspection has been in operation in any other countries?
That is a separate question.