Derek Keating
Question:40. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she plans to introduce regulations for childminders in the home. [32349/13]
View answerThursday, 4 July 2013
Questions (40, 42, 54, 56)
Gerry Adams
Question:42. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the penalties she believes must apply where breaches of childcare regulations are detected; when she expects that said penalties will be introduced; if legislation is required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32581/13]
View answerDerek Keating
Question:54. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she plans to introduce regulations for childminders including childminders in the home; if they will be included in the Children First legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32348/13]
View answer
Alan Farrell
Question:56. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action she has taken on crèches that are currently in breach of regulations in 2013; if they are to receive continued funding in 2013 if the breaches in regulations persist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32344/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 42, 54 and 56 together.
Pre-school services are subject to the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No.2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991. The inspection of pre-schools and the enforcement of the Regulations are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE).
My Department is undertaking a review of the penalties currently in place for breach of the Child Care (Pre-School) Regulations, as provided for under the Child Care Act 1991. The review will look at increasing the range and severity of the existing penalties including the actions which can be taken by Inspectors without recourse to court prosecution, as is currently the case.
In addition, my Department is working with the Pre-School Inspectorate to develop new protocols on regulatory compliance so that there is greater clarity and consistency of approach as to how inspection reports deal with findings of serious non-compliance vis a vis minor breaches and full compliance. The protocols will also inform the future suspension or termination of funding in the case of serious non-compliance.
At present childminders taking care of more than three pre-school children from different families, and after-school care for children, are not subject to the Child Care Regulations. These are issues which I am reviewing and will consider further in the coming months in the context of both the Early Years Strategy, which is being developed by my Department, and other amendments to the Child Care Act 1991 which are being considered.
Childminders who are not subject to the Childcare Regulations are encouraged to voluntarily notify their service to their local City or County Childcare Committee. Both notified and voluntarily notified childminders can avail of the Childminders Tax Exemption which exempts childminding earnings of up to €15,000 from income tax.
My Department is currently piloting a new School Age Childcare scheme in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection. When fully operational, the scheme will provide 6,000 subsidised, after-school places for primary school children, to assist qualifying parents to avail of employment opportunities. Eligibility for the scheme will be determined by the Department of Social Protection. Parents qualifying under the scheme will be able to access after school childcare at a weekly cost of €20. My Department will subsidise each of these places with weekly payments of €35 during term time and €100 in school holidays. Pending any change to the Child Care Act 1991 to extend regulatory control to after-school childcare, all services participating in the scheme will be subject to strict contractual requirements drawn up by my Department.
One of the specific issues of policy which I have identified for consideration in the preparation of Ireland's first ever Early Years Strategy for children aged from birth to 6 years, is the future role and regulation of the childminding sector. I expect work on the Strategy to be completed later this year and I will review the future regulation of childminders in that context.