Vol. 504 No. 2
231 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself that adequate standards are in place in relation to crèches; the procedures in place for making complaints regarding abuse of children in crèches, both registered and non-registered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11674/99]
The purpose of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations, 1996, is to build on the existing good standards in our pre-school services and gradually improve standards throughout the sector to secure the health, safety and welfare of pre-school children and to promote the development of children attending pre-school services.
Section 8 of these regulations states that a person carrying on a pre-school service shall ensure that no corporal punishment is inflicted on a pre-school child attending the service. Section 27 states that a person carrying on a pre-school service shall take all reasonable measures to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of pre-school children attending the service.
My Department issued guidelines on the identification, investigation and management of child abuse in 1987. These guidelines specify that if a person suspects child abuse he or she should notify the health board immediately. These guidelines are currently being revised and expanded by a working group which I established in February 1998. I expect to receive the new guidelines in early June.
The Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act, 1998 is also relevant in this context. The Act provides immunity from civil liability to any person who reports child abuse "reasonably and in good faith" to designated officers of health boards or any member of An Garda Síochána. It also provides significant protections from penalisation from their employers for employees who report child abuse. This Act came into operation on 23 January 1999.
