Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 1

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

112 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of crèches, nurseries and child minders registered with the health boards; the number not registered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23807/99]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

113 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of child care facilities inspected in the Dublin area; the reduction in places on average recommended in each inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23808/99]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

114 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of child care facilities inspected in each of the health board areas; the reduction in places on average recommended in each inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23809/99]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

115 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health and Children the timetable given to child care facilities to reduce the numbers attending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23810/99]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. Fahey)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 to 115, inclusive, together.

The Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations, 1996, which give effect to the provisions of Part VII of the Child Care Act, 1991, provide for notification to and inspection by health boards of pre-school services. The regulations apply to pre-schools, playgroups, day nurseries, crèches, childminders looking after more than three children and other similar services which cater for children under six years of age.

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. 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, rather than to register. On receipt of notification the health board will provide relevant information to the applicant and arrange for an inspection to be carried out by an authorised person.

The number of notifications received by the health boards to date is 2,882. The number of inspections including first and second annual inspections carried out to date is as follows:

Health Board	No of inspections
EHB (Dublin)	703
EHB (outside Dublin)	161
MHB	190
MWHB	287
NEHB	260
NWHB	198
SEHB	300
SHB	437
WHB	111

Precise information on the number of pre-school providers who have not complied with the notification requirements is difficult to compile. Health boards continue to take steps to pursue non-notifiers and notifications to the health boards are ongoing.

The requirement to reduce places is mainly related to the availability of adequate space per child in the premises and-or the requirement to have a sufficient number of competent adults supervising the pre-school children in the service at all times. A reduction in the number of places is not necessarily recommended following inspection.

Where deficiencies are identified, the health board and the providers work in a co-operative manner to make specific improvements in a planned way provided that any delay would not adversely affect the welfare of children. The plan may include a reduction in numbers achieved through natural reduction, that is, not replacing children who leave during the year, reducing numbers on a phased basis, reducing numbers at the beginning of the next school year or the provider moving to a larger premises. The timescale for making improvements varies from a requirement for immediate action to a phased implementation which may extend to six months.

The Deputy will be aware that the Partnership 2000 Expert Working Group on Child Care under the auspices of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, examined the provision of a co-ordinated national framework for the development of a child care infrastructure. The report of the group was launched on 3 February 1999. Following publication of this report the Government established an interdepartmental committee on child care chaired by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to evaluate, cost and prioritise the proposals in the report and the child care proposals in an Action Programme for the Millennium, the report of the Commission on the Family and the report of the Forum on Early Childhood Education. The report of the committee has been noted by Government which has referred the report for consideration to a ministerial group.