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Early Years Sector

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 November 2019

Tuesday, 19 November 2019

Questions (586, 587)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

586. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the powers Tusla has sought to strengthen the early years inspectorate; when such powers will be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47855/19]

View answer

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

587. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is considering the introduction of a compulsory requirement to compel early years providers to display their certificate of registration; if such a requirement can be introduced by way of a Ministerial order; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47856/19]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 586 and 587 together.

Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate was given substantial new powers just three years ago. These include the powers to:

- Maintain a register of early years services;

- Place conditions on that registration, refuse to register a service, or remove a service from the register where that service is not operating in accordance with the Regulations;

- Prosecute a service that has not complied with a condition of registration;

- Prosecute a person or persons who are operating an unregistered service; and

- Re-examine the registration status of every service on at least a three-yearly cycle.

Following the RTÉ Investigates broadcast Behind Closed Doors on 24th July 2019, I wrote to the Chairperson of Tusla to ask what additional powers Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate might need in order to address concerns it may have about provision within years services. The Chairperson of Tusla wrote back to me in August, setting out a range of additional powers that might be provided to Tusla, which included:

- Power to close a service immediately where it has failed to register (rather than having to go to Court to seek a prosecution);

- The ability to request and acquire parents’ contact details, in order to inform parents as early as possible regarding ongoing investigation/proceedings;

- Power to require services to display in a prominent position their registration status, and any conditions attaching to the registration;

- Power to immediately close a service (already registered) where Tusla has evidence of very serious breach of regulations;

- A requirement to have a ‘fit person’ regulation related to the registered provider and person in charge;

- Provision when a service is to be removed from the register for a process to allow for continuation of the service under interim management where appropriate; and

- Adding Tusla to the list of services under protected disclosures legislation in order to enable staff working in early years services to make disclosures to Tusla.

While it may be possible to give effect to some of these powers through Ministerial Order, some will require amendments to primary legislation, and careful consideration is needed of each to ensure that any measures taken are robust and legally sound. I have asked my officials to move as quickly as possible, but I recognise that there are complex legal issues involved which will take time to address.

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