Tuesday, 22 Jan 2013

Written Answers Nos. 550-571

Food Labelling

Questions (550)

Martin Ferris

Question:

550. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the names of the two companies which he stated on 16 January 2013 were the sources of the contaminated product which found its way into burgers here, and whether either or both of those companies is owned in whole or in part by any of the Irish companies which imported the ingredients and processed the burgers here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2881/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

As I indicated in my statement on 16th January, the investigation into this matter is focusing on the individual ingredients used in the manufacture of the affected product. A number of these ingredients were imported into the State. There is no evidence from the investigation so far to show that the manufacturer knowingly imported equine meat to use in the production of these burgers. Further investigations and testing of product are ongoing, with a view to establishing the full facts.

In the circumstances it would be inappropriate at this point to name supplier companies.

I can advise that I am not aware of any evidence from enquiries to date which would suggest that the companies to which the Deputy refers are owned in whole or in part by the Irish companies which manufactured the burgers.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Questions (551)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

551. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2884/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Evidence of donkeys held on the holding of the person named has recently been provided to my Department. Thus it has been possible to determine that the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements have been met, enabling processing of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application to be finalised. Payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account.

Ministerial Staff

Questions (552)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

552. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of immediate or extended family members employed by his Department; the names and remuneration in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2892/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In response to the Deputy’s question I can confirm that no family members are employed by me.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Questions (553)

Pat Breen

Question:

553. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 587 of 27 November 2012, the position regarding a headage payment appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2917/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Payment in respect of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued to the nominated bank account on 29 November 2012 and the applicant has confirmed its receipt.

Single Payment Scheme Eligibility

Questions (554)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

554. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the procedures involved in long term leasing of a farm and the transfer of entitlements to a family member of new entrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2925/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Single Payment entitlements may be leased from one farmer to another if accompanied by an equivalent number of hectares of eligible land.

The application form to be completed by farmers engaging in a lease of entitlements is available on my Department’s website. The closing date for receipt of applications under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme is the 15th of May 2013. Under the current Single Payment Regulations entitlements that are leased out with land will revert to the owner on expiry of the lease of the land.

Negotiations on the CAP post 2013 are continuing and it is too early to predict the finer details of the arrangements that will apply under the new regime. Under the current Commission proposals it is envisaged that new entitlements will be established for farmers who apply in the first year of the scheme and who were paid on one or more entitlements in 2011. There is also a provision, under the Commission proposals, whereby a farmer who was paid in 2011 and who transfers his entitlements to another farmer may also transfer the right to establish entitlements in the first year of the new regime to that other farmer.

Forestry Grants

Questions (555)

Michael Creed

Question:

555. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No.183 of 3 October 2012, and Parliamentary Question No. 563 of 23 October 2012, when a person (details provided) in County Cork will receive a decision on their forestry road grant application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2934/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The views of the designated consultation bodies, including the National Parks and Wildlife Service, have now been received. Arrangements are now being made, including an inspection of the land involved, to expedite the decision in this case. The person will be contacted by the Department as soon as a decision is made.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Questions (556)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

556. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2012 agri-environment options scheme payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2944/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st November 2010 and full payments totalling €476.63 and €2,844.00 issued in respect of 2010 and 2011 respectively.

Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks for 2012 issues were identified in relation to the claimed areas on the Natura Commonage action. Officials in my Department are finalising the application of the person named with the intention of issuing payment as soon as possible.

Horse Slaughter Statistics

Questions (557)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

557. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the number of horses slaughtered in abattoirs each year here since 2008; if he has received any statistics from the local authorities on horses slaughtered in abattoirs that are under their supervision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2945/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The number of horses slaughtered in plants approved by my Department in each of the years since 2008 was as follows:

2008 – 2,002;

2009 – 3,220;

2010 – 7,296;

2011 – 12,575;

2012 – 11,451.

I understand from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland that the following numbers of horses were slaughtered in local authority approved slaughter plants:

2008 – 44*

2009 – 1,027;

2010 – 2,494;

2011 – 4,985;

2012 – 12,444 (provisional figure).

(* Included in miscellaneous category, total 44)

Horse Population Census

Questions (558)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

558. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has undertaken a census on the Irish horse population through the use of data collected under the Diseases of Animals Act 1988 (Registration of Horse Premises) Order 2012, SI No. 8 of 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2946/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

No census has been undertaken by my Department under the Diseases of Animals Act 1966 (Registration of Horse Premises) Order 2012. The Deputy may wish to note that the Central Statistics Office has recently published a Census of Agriculture for 2010, which shows the number of horses in the country returned at 106,020 of which 37,513 were thoroughbred horses and ponies.

Pet Food Regulation

Questions (559)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

559. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if horse meat is used in the provision of processed food for domestic pets here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2947/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The manufacture of pet food in Ireland is governed by EU regulations relating to animal by-products (ABPs), which provide that this product must be processed in a plant approved by the competent authority and to the parameters specified in the legislation.

The regulations permit the manufacture of pet food from specified ABPs, including ABPs which are fit for human consumption but are not intended for human consumption for commercial or other reasons. I understand that none of the pet food manufacturers approved by my Department under the EU regulations uses horsemeat as an ingredient in the manufacture of their pet food product.

Food Labelling

Questions (560)

Denis Naughten

Question:

560. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to topical issue of 16 January 2013, if he will provide an update on the inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2952/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The findings of laboratory tests, provided by the FSAI to my Department on 14th January 2013, revealed the presence of non beef DNA in some beef products produced in Ireland. This generally involved trace or minute amounts of porcine or equine DNA with the exception of one burger in respect of which a high level of equine DNA (29% of meat content) was indicated. While the FSAI has given assurances that no food safety issues arise in this instance there are clearly very significant issues in respect of confidence in the quality of the products concerned and these are being addressed in the Department’s investigation. Affected product has been withdrawn from the markets by the food business operators involved.

Further preliminary results relating to samples taken by the Department on Tuesday 15th January, from product manufactured in Silvercrest Foods in the period 3rd to 14th January, were published on Thursday 17th January. These tests indicate the presence of equine DNA in samples of burgers, which were already withdrawn by the company concerned from the market. Samples of raw ingredients were also tested. Thirteen samples of finished burgers were tested for the presence of equine DNA. Nine tested positive for traces of equine DNA and four tested negative. Seven samples of raw ingredients were tested, one of which, sourced from another Member State, tested positive. Samples of ingredients in burgers sourced from Irish suppliers tested negative for equine DNA. My Department informed the company of these further laboratory test results and the company has suspended all production at the plant until it completes its investigation. These results were fully assessed jointly by Department officials and the FSAI; and arrangements have been made to have the positive samples further analysed with a view to quantifying the percentage of non beef DNA present.

The latest results from tests on burgers from Liffey Meats Ltd., published on 21st January, have shown that there was no presence of horse DNA in the product, which was manufactured between January 10th and January 16th. These results are welcome and support the company’s claims that it has addressed concerns raised by the FSAI survey findings. Primary responsibility for both the safety and quality of food placed on the market place lies with food business operators. This is subject to a series of official controls to verify compliance by the food business operators with their food safety management system - these controls are applied at different stages in the food supply chain. The Department has permanent veterinary presence at all its export approved slaughtering plants. Controls at standalone processing plants are based on audits and inspections carried out by DAFM staff, based on risk assessment. In addition under the Department’s National Residue Programme, some 30,000 samples taken at farm and factory level and covering a wide range of food stuffs are tested annually. These tests normally relate to microbiological and chemical standards, focused on food safety and in accordance with EU testing requirements. DNA testing is not required under EU legislation and is not generally in use in relation to food production and safety. It has however been deployed in recent times as part of the FSAI’s food fraud control activities and these results arose from that control programme.

Intensive investigations are continuing with a view to identifying the source of the equine DNA in the Silvercrest Foods processing facility. This includes further analysis of a range of samples from both burgers and ingredients. Detailed analysis of records held by the company relating to the sourcing of ingredients and the incorporation of these ingredients is also being conducted.

Live Exports

Questions (561)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

561. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the transport of live animals to African and Middle Eastern countries is conforming to the guidelines of the International Animal Health Organisation; the type of inspection of the ships that will be undertaken; his views on standards of slaughter houses in these countries; his view on whether in exporting live animals we are exporting jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2964/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Ireland has a strict system of transport rules in respect of both national and international journeys. The current Irish regulation in relation to the approval of ships for livestock transport is set higher than that which applies in other EU Member States. Detailed inspections are required before approval is given to ships transporting animals. The requirements for approval of dedicated vessels for the carriage of cattle by sea are contained in the Diseases of Animals (Carriage of Cattle by Sea) Orders, 1996 and 1998.

My Department has no jurisdiction in relation to standards of slaughter plants in other countries. However, it does support ongoing efforts by International Organisation, such as the OIE, to improve welfare standards at slaughter plants worldwide.

The live export trade provides alternative market outlets for certain categories of livestock, thereby serving a market demand and providing increased competition in the market place for cattle. While my Department is conscious of the need to balance this trade with the requirements of the indigenous meat processing industry, it cannot interfere with such legitimate trade and legitimate competition, but it does seek to ensure that any such trade is carried out to a high standard.

Food Safety Standards Regulation

Questions (562)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

562. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the traceability system in place for cattle, sheep and pigs to horses in view of the adulteration of beef burgers with horse meat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3040/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002, which sets out the general principles and requirements of EU food law, stipulates among other things that food business operators at all stages of production, processing and distribution within the businesses under their control must ensure that foods satisfy the requirements of food law. Specifically in regard to traceability, the regulations require that food business operators must have systems in place to be able to identify any person from whom they have been supplied with a food. They must also have a system in place to identify the other businesses to which their product has been supplied. In other words a food business operator at each and every stage in the food chain must be able to identify the source of its inputs as well as having details of the first recipient of its output. This is commonly referred to as the “one step forward one step backward” traceability system.

The Department implements official controls on horse identification at marts and other sales venues, in abattoirs and at points of entry to the country. Where forged or tampered passports accompanying horses to slaughter are detected, it is Department policy that such animals are destroyed and removed from the food chain.

The Department maintains ongoing vigilance in relation to official controls on the identification of horses through national and EU legislation. In this connection, the European Communities (Equine) (Amendment) Regulations, S.I. No. 371/2012, introduced recently, provide for the updating of S.I. No. 357/2011 (European Communities (Equine) Regulations 2011) to strengthen the powers of the Minister in relation to approval of an issuing body for equine passports, authorised officers and prosecutions in relation to equine identification.

The Department is also developing a central database (traceability system) of horses which will involve migration of selected data from passport issuing organisations to the Department. The database will be populated by information provided from the databases maintained by the passport issuing organisations; by the Department from records obtained from sources such as slaughter plants and knackeries; and by Local Authority Veterinary Inspectors in respect of records maintained at appropriate slaughter plants.

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (563)

Gerry Adams

Question:

563. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on the new procedures the Government have introduced for appointments to State boards. [3568/13]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Since May 2011, a notification has been placed on my Department’s website inviting expressions of interest from persons interested in being appointed to the boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department. Also on 7 September 2012 last, I placed an advertisement in the National Newspapers inviting expressions of interest. These applications were considered when appointments were made to these boards in 2012.

In the case of a number of bodies, the board appointments, while made by me, are not at my sole discretion and, instead, individuals are nominated for appointment by me by various organisations as specified in the relevant statute. These are the Aquaculture Licensing Appeals Board, Bord Bia, Teagasc, National Milk Agency, Veterinary Council of Ireland and Horse Racing Ireland.

When a nomination to the position of Chairperson is proposed the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine is informed and arrangements made to allow the nominee to discuss the approach which they will take to their role as chairperson and their views about the future contribution of the State Body in question and, following that discussion, a decision will be taken by the Minister or the Government, as appropriate, to confirm the nominee as chairperson.

To date the nominated Chairperson of Coillte appeared before the Committee on 20 November 2012 and the nominated Chairpersons for the Irish National Stud and Horse Racing Ireland are due to appear before the Committee on 7 February 2013.

Children in Care

Questions (564)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

564. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ask the Health Service Executive to review a decision regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin and leave the person in their current care placement [2566/13]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.

Child Care Services Provision

Questions (565)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

565. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the capital and grant funding available for investment in childcare facilities and areas under her remit in 2013; if she will outline the various programmes that will be open for application in 2013; the funding available for each and for what purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2297/13]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

In Budget 2012 the Government provided €6 million for remedial, maintenance, and renovation work and/or to purchase equipment for early education and childcare services. This funding has been allocated. A capital allocation of €3.25m for childcare facilities is available to my Department in 2013, and I am currently considering how this allocation can best be utilised for the benefit of the childcare sector.

My Department does however continue to provide support to parents to assist them with the daily cost of childcare. This support is provided through the provision of two targeted childcare support programmes - the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme - and the universal Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.

The CCS programme provides funding to community-based childcare services to enable them to provide childcare at reduced rates to parents in receipt of social welfare payments. For the purpose of the CCS programme, eligibility is determined by reference to a range of means-tested allowances and payments including receipt of a social welfare payment, Family Income Supplement (FIS) and qualification for a medical or GP visit card. Eligibility for a GP visit card is based on net income and takes account of outgoings such as rent and mortgage repayments and other expenses including childcare costs and travelling expenses. As a result, middle and low income working parents may also qualify for support. Parents who qualify for the top rate of subvention under the programme receive €95 per week towards full-day childcare costs.

The CETS programme provides €145 towards the weekly cost of full time childcare places for trainees and students whose children are enrolled in a participating service and who are deemed qualified by FÁS or the VEC to qualify for childcare support under the programme. Students on part-time courses are funded on a pro-rata basis.

The ECCE programme provides one free preschool year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. Children aged between 3 years 2 months and 4 years 6 months at 1 September in the relevant year qualify for a maximum of 15 hours per week free preschool provision over a 38 week period. This is a universal programme to which all children have access.

In 2012, the total expenditure by my Department on these three programmes was in the region of €240 million. These programmes have been maintained despite the ongoing need to reduce Government expenditure and they represent a significant investment in supporting parents with the cost of childcare.

You may also be aware that, as part of Budget 2013, I and my colleague the Minister for Social Protection announced a joint school-age childcare initiative which will provide further support to both the community and the private childcare sector. This initiative, which represents a full year investment of €14 million, will provide important support to parents in low income families wishing to take up employment, along with ensuring that quality after-school care is in place to support children's development.

Future developments relating to early years care and education will be considered during preparation of the new National Early Years Strategy which is currently being developed by my Department and is expected to be completed in the first half of 2013. This Strategy will cover a range of issues affecting children in their first years of life such as health, family support, learning and development and care and education and will identify the structures and policies needed to improve early year's experience in Ireland.

Inter-Country Adoptions

Questions (566, 574)

Michael McCarthy

Question:

566. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding Ethiopian adoptions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2399/13]

Pat Breen

Question:

574. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding inter country adoptions with Belarus and Ethiopia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2793/13]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 566 and 574 together.

All inter country adoptions must meet the requirements of the Adoption Act 2010 including the provisions of the Hague Convention on Inter Country Adoption.

Ethiopia is not a signatory of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. In these circumstances, future adoptions from Ethiopia would require a bilateral agreement between Ireland and Ethiopia. The negotiation of bilateral agreements on intercountry adoption with states who have not ratified the Hague Convention is governed by Section 73 of the Adoption Act 2010 which states that "the Authority, with the prior consent of the Minister, may enter into discussions with any non-contracting state concerning the possibility of the Government entering into a bilateral agreement with that State."

The Adoption Authority delegation visit to Ethiopia in April of 2012 was an initial part of the Authority's deliberations on the feasibility and suitability of entering into discussions with Ethiopia on a bilateral adoption agreement. The Authority forwarded a report of their visit to me in May 2012. The Authority is awaiting legal advice regarding the compatibility of the Irish and Ethiopian adoption legislation. The Authority has also informed me that it has asked the Irish Embassy to make the appropriate contacts in the Ministry of Women's Affairs in Ethiopia with a view to verifying the stance of the Ethiopian authorities to entering into exploratory talks in relation to a bilateral agreement. I await the AAI advice in this regard.

According to information provided by the Adoption Authority, there have been no applications for registration of foreign adoptions from Belarus since 2007, when one application relating to an adoption effected in 2002 was made.

Belarus has ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. However, the National Central Authority of Belarus has not indicated that it will accept applications from persons resident in Ireland. Legal issues exist including the monitoring of post placement reports, registration of the adopted child at the Belarussian embassy in London and consular visits to the homes of adoptive parents.

Prospective adoptive parents with a valid Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability to Adopt who are undertaking an intercountry adoption should ensure the adoption complies fully with the Adoption Act, 2010 and the Hague Convention. Further information in this regard can be found on the Adoption Authority website (www.aai.gov.ie).

Child and Family Support Agency Establishment

Questions (567)

Terence Flanagan

Question:

567. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she expects to publish the heads of Bill for the new agency for child and family services; if she expects the Oireachtas health committee to deal with the Committee Stage of the Bill (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2487/13]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Task Force on the establishment of the Child and Family Support Agency reported in July 2012. The work of the Task Force informed the development of detailed legislative proposals to Government, covering a range of areas including the function and services to be overseen by the Agency, governance structures and implementation arrangements. Arising out of these proposals, the Government approved the Heads of the Child and Family Support Agency Bill and has also agreed to the priority drafting of this Bill. The Agency will encompass services which are currently the responsibility of three separate agencies; namely the HSE, the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board. The necessary legislative and organisational preparations are being prioritised so that the Agency can be established as a priority. Drafting of the Child and Family Support Agency Bill is under way, in line with the policy decisions of Government. This legislation will be published, presented to the Oireachtas and debated at the earliest opportunity. The precise mechanism for this will be determined shortly. A target date for the establishment of the new Agency will be set when consideration of the legislation is advanced.

While the legislative process is under way, all necessary organisational preparations are continuing in parallel. These preparations are being overseen by a high level group chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and involving representatives of the Departments of Health and Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE and the incoming management team of the new Agency.

When established, the Agency will constitute one of the largest public agencies in the State with staff of over 4,000 employees. It represents one of the largest and most ambitious areas of public sector reform currently underway. The milestones already achieved are considerable: a dedicated management structure for child welfare and protection services has been established under the leadership of Gordon Jeyes with a reduction in management units and reporting levels; a dedicated budget has been established and publicly reported upon, to ensure budgetary transparency and accountability; there has been successful recruitment to five of the six top management posts with candidates now in place; and very significant progress has been made in addressing issues for staff by means of intensive engagement in an agreed industrial relations framework. From the outset I set a demanding timetable for the establishment of the new Agency. It is important that the pace of change is maintained, while appreciating the nature of this large scale change requires much advance preparation and reliance on the best standards of public administration.

I am satisfied that very considerable progress has already been achieved in the reform of Ireland’s child protection and welfare services. I am confident that the establishment of the Agency will bring a dedicated focus to child protection, family support and other key children’s services for the first time in the history of the State and will in time contribute to the transformation of what are essential services for families and communities.

Preschool Services

Questions (568, 569, 570, 571)

Ciara Conway

Question:

568. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will consider updating the Child Care Act 1991 in order that all paid child-minders are subject to regulation and inspection. [2621/13]

Ciara Conway

Question:

569. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether a move from the current notification system to a registration system for all early years’ services, including paid child-minders; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2622/13]

Ciara Conway

Question:

570. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in situations in which children are cared for in the child-minders home, if she will ensure that Garda vetting for the paid child-minders and for every member of the child-minders household should be a condition of registration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2623/13]

Ciara Conway

Question:

571. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure that a review will be carried out to ensure that the pre-school regulations and the inspection processes are proportionate and appropriate to the home environment that child-minders work in; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2624/13]

Written answers

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

I propose to take Questions Nos. 568 to 571, inclusive, together.

My Department has begun work on Ireland’s first Early Years Strategy which will provide an innovative and dynamic blueprint for the future development of Ireland’s Early Years sector aimed at providing a coherent approach to seeking to improve the lives of children from birth to the age of six. One of the policy issues which I have identified for consideration in the preparation of the new Strategy is the development of the childminding sector as a fully-integrated component of early childhood care and education, in particular for under-one age group.

At present, preschool services are regulated under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No.2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991. Services providing care for children who have not yet commenced primary school are required to notify their service to the Preschool Inspectorate of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and are subject to inspection and report by the Inspectorate on a regular basis. Services covered by the Regulations include full-time, part-time and sessional services as well as childminders taking care of more than three preschool children from different families in the childminder’s home.

Childminders taking care of not more than three preschool children from different families are not covered by the Regulations. Decisions on how best to regulate the childminding sector will continue to form part of the ongoing work on the Early Years Strategy.

The Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, which I published in 2011, provides clarity and guidance for individuals and organisations in identifying and responding appropriately to child abuse and neglect. It also sets out what organisations that care for or work with children should do to ensure those children are safe whilst in the care of the organisation. The Government has committed, as a priority, to the introduction of legislation to underpin Children First.

The Deputy will be aware that I published the Heads of the Children First Bill in April 2012. The purpose of publishing the Heads was to allow for a full consultation at an early stage in developing the Bill.

I asked the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children to consider the Heads of the Children First Bill and make recommendations. I received their comprehensive Report and my Department is currently considering the broad range of submissions to, and recommendations of, the Joint Committee, including those submissions pertaining to the issue of childminders.