Written Answers. - Child Care Services.
John V. Farrelly
Question:
241
Mr. Farrelly
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
if his attention has been drawn to the fact that regarding crèche and after-school facilities, some inspectors from the North Eastern Health Board are preventing the after-school children who are fully supervised from walking down a corridor through the crèche area to the kitchen to have their evening meal; his views on the implementation and continuation of this policy; if he is prepared to support this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[7510/02]
I understand from the North Eastern Health Board that the case referred to by the Deputy is the subject of court proceedings and it would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment on this case.
The Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations, 1996, 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, child minders 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.
Details of deficiencies in services identified during inspection are outlined in writing to the provider and the provider is required to outline measures that will be put in place to deal with the deficiencies. While taking cognisance of their statutory duty to ensure the health, safety and welfare of children the health board pre-school inspection teams work in a supportive way with the providers to ensure that planned improvements are made. I understand from the health boards that the experience of the pre-school inspection teams is that the majority of pre-school providers wish to achieve a high standard of service and work in partnership with the teams to achieve and maintain this standard.
Where serious breaches of the regulations concerning the health, safety and welfare of children identified during an inspection are not rectified within specified time scales, health boards can bring the matter to the attention of the District Court under Part VII of the Child Care Act, 1991.
