Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2015
289. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps and measures a citizen must take to become a child care service provider; and the requirements and Government policy for opening a child care facility in any given community. [27560/15]
View answerThe majority of childcare services in the country are commercial or community/not-for-profit services.
Anyone wishing to become a childcare provider must comply with all relevant childcare legislation and with Tusla requirements, and the planning requirements of the relevant local authority. The provision of pre-school childcare services are governed by the Child Care Act 1991 and the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006. It is currently a requirement of the Regulations that a person proposing to carry on a pre-school service shall, at least 28 days before the commencement of the service, give notice in writing to the Child and Family Agency. Section 55 of the Child Care Act places a duty on the Agency to inspect services for which it receives notification.
Amendments have been made to the Child Care Act 1991 to underpin proposed reforms and Regulations giving effect to these legislative changes are expected to be published shortly. The new Regulations will impose qualification requirements of a minimum Level 5 award on the National Qualifications Framework (NFQ) in early childhood care and education for all staff working in early years services (no requirement currently exists). This requirement will apply from September 2015 in the case of new services, and from September 2016 in the case of existing services.
These new Regulations will also introduce a new registration system that will require anyone who wants to establish an early years service to register with the Child and Family Agency before they open. Premises will be inspected by the Early Years Inspectorate before registration is granted, and there will be on-going inspections once the service is operating and children are attending. These new Regulations will also be accompanied by new National Standards for Early Years Services, against which services will be inspected. A second and separate phase of inspection, which will monitor the child care related criteria, will be carried out after the service has become operational and children are attending.
Each year, my Department provides some €13 million to City and County Childcare Committees and National Voluntary Childcare Organisation. This funding supports the work of these bodies in supporting early years’ services around the country, through training, continuing professional development programmes, networking and cluster-type support groups. They are an invaluable source of information and support for those wishing to become a childcare provider.
