Robert Troy
Question:419. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when he will publish the new early years regulations. [29916/15]
View answerThursday, 16 July 2015
Questions (419)
Written answers
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 Deputy may be aware that my Department is progressing the Early Years Quality Agenda which introduces a number of key of reforms that provide for the further development of the childcare sector. To underpin these reforms, it was necessary to amend the Child Care Act, 1991 and these legislative changes were enacted through the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013.
To provide for the implementation of the changes, it was necessary to carry out a root and branch re-examination of the existing regulations including a restructuring of the regulations and guidance content in line with the latest drafting practices. This proved more time consuming than originally envisaged. Officials in my Department are working closely with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to develop a comprehensive draft of the new regulations, and I hope to publish the new regulations shortly.