Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 September 2013
17. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if all inspection reports on child care facilities are now and will henceforth be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38766/13]
View answer18. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to ensure highest standards are reached and adhered to and an appropriate inspection regime across all pre-school child care facilities is in place; the time frame for achieving both; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38764/13]
View answer36. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress made to date to address the recently exposed poor management standards and breaches of regulations and best practice at creches in the Dublin area; if follow-up inspections have taken place and the findings of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38762/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 18 and 36 together.
The commitment to improve the quality of early childhood care and education has been a key priority for me since becoming Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
I have outlined to the Dail on several occasions, and to the Joint Oireachtas Committee, eight key areas of action which I believe need to be considered and addressed as a matter of urgency. The areas I have identified are:
- Increasing the qualification requirements for all staff in pre-school services to a minimum standard at FETAC Level 5
- Improving the quality and curricular supports for pre-school services when implementing the Siolta Framework and Aistear Curriculum
- Implementing the new National Pre-School Standards
- Introducing a registration system for all pre-school services
- Taking steps to make the inspection system more consistent and more robust
- Publishing inspection reports on-line as soon as possible
- Ensuring appropriate action is taken in response to findings of non-compliance
- Increasing and widening the sanctions which can be taken for non-compliance.
My Department and I are working on a comprehensive Pre-School Quality Agenda. This includes the introduction of National Quality Standards, which will be implemented later this year. These Standards contain a section on Organisation and Management which includes the following criteria:
- All staff commence induction training in relation to all the policies and procedures of the service during their first week of employment
- Each staff member receives regular supervision and support in relation to all areas of their work
- The on-going training needs of staff are identified, addressed and provided for on a regular basis.
I have highlighted in previous replies to Dáil questions the responsibilities that the Child Care Regulations impose on pre-school managers in ensuring that suitable and competent staff are employed and that they are effectively supervised and monitored in order to ensure that the highest quality of care is provided to children attending the service. The introduction of a more robust inspection regime will enforce the requirement for providers to place quality at the centre of the services they provide.
Pre-school services are governed by the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006 as provided in the Child Care Act 1991. Under the Regulations the Health Service Executive has responsibility for the inspection of services and the enforcement of the regulations. Inspection is carried out to monitor compliance with the Regulations thereby ensuring the health, safety and welfare of children and the promotion of their development.
A number of steps are being taken to improve the current inspection system. These include the introduction of National Quality Standards for pre-school services later this year as part of the inspection process. 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 as opposed to minor breaches and full compliance. My Department is also 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.
I can confirm that, in the case of the three pre-school services featured in RTE's Primetime programme of 28 May 2013, complaints management and inspection review visits have taken place in each case. In relation to the publication of pre-school service inspection reports, the HSE has begun the process of publishing retrospective reports on-line, and this process will continue over the coming weeks and months. All new inspection reports from 1st July will be published on-line on completion. The publication of these reports is being hosted by Pobal, and the reports are available on the Pobal website.
A new registration system has been introduced this month and new services wishing to open will be required to register with the HSE. The HSE will determine whether the childcare service is compliant in terms of suitability and service design before the service will be permitted to operate. Following commencement of the service, actual care and welfare practices will be inspected.
