Vol. 494 No. 6
101 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Health and Children the estimated number of premises to be inspected in relation to regulations under the Child Care Act, 1991; the number inspected to date; the number registered as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18990/98]
The Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 1996 made under 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. Under the regulations pre-school providers are obliged to notify their local health board that they are carrying on or proposing to carry on a pre-school service. On receipt of notification the health board will arrange for an inspection of the service to be carried out by an authorised person. It is estimated that there could be up to 5,000 facilities nationally. The most recent information available from the health boards show that 2,563 notifications have been received and 808 inspections carried out. A number of advisory visits and follow up visits have also taken place. All inspections are due to be completed by the end of June 1999.
Part VIII of the Child Care Act, 1991, provides for the introduction of a statutory scheme for the registration and inspection by health board's of children's residential centres operated by voluntary bodies. The statutory obligations are set out in the Child Care (Standards in Children's Residential Centres) Regulations, 1996. Information available from the health boards shows that the estimated number of facilities to be inspected is 42; the number inspected to date is 17 and the number registered is 11.
