Written Answers. - Child Care Services.
Emmet Stagg
Question:
67
Mr. Stagg
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the role and responsibility of his Department in the provision of pre-school and child care services; the funding available to him in 2000 for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[5582/00]
My role and responsibility in this area relates to the implementation of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations, 1996, which give effect to the provisions of Part VII of the Child Care Act, 1991, and 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. 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.
Health boards provide financial supports to 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 the provision of family support services. Funding of approximately £3.9 million – capital and revenue – was provided by the health boards towards these services in 1999. An additional £1.75 million is being provided in 2000. In addition, a small number of grants are normally made available from national lottery funding.
The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform was allocated £250 million to develop child care over the next seven years under the national development plan 2000-06. This funding will facilitate the child care measures which were announced in budget 2000. The main objectives of the new measures is an increase in the quantity of child care places and also an improvement in the quality of services available. These measures comprise the equal opportunities child care programme which includes grant supports to establish, upgrade, enhance and staff community based child care facilities; capital grants for private providers of child care catering for up to 20 child care places; grants to develop local child care networks; and supports to enhance national voluntary child care organisations which provide advice, support and training to child care service providers.
The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is finalising the criteria and the eligibility requirements for the grant schemes at present and it intends to begin promoting the various initiatives shortly in the national media.
In addition, it was announced in Budget 2000 that accelerated capital allowances, at the rate of 100% in the first year, will apply in relation to expenditure incurred on and from 1 December 1999 on child care facilities which meet the required standards as provided under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations, 1996 (the allowances are subject to clearance by the EU Commission).
The implementation of the child care measures will be facilitated by the establishment of an interdepartmental committee on child care, a national co-ordinating child care committee and county child care committees. My Department is represented on the interdepartmental committee on child care and on the national co-ordinating child care committee. The health boards are represented on the national co-ordinating child care committee and the county child care committees will be led by the relevant health boards. These committees will liaise locally and nationally on child care.
