asked the Minister for Education what controls are in existence on privately run nursery schools; and if they are inspected.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Private Nursery Schools.
51.
Privately-run nursery schools are not controlled and are not inspected by my Department.
Would the Minister not agree that it is highly desirable that nursery schools set up by people who cater for and take into their care children of very tender years should be inspected frequently by officers of the Department?
I do not agree with the Deputy in so far as I doubt if it would be the function of the Department to look after children of that particular age. We have the lowest minimum age for admission to primary schools in Europe — four years.
Considerable difficulty is experienced by parents in getting their children into primary school. A number of them avail of the opportunity of sending children of three, four and five years to these nursery schools. It helps to alleviate the overcrowding, particularly in the Dublin area, of these schools. Surely there is a responsibility on the Minister's Department to ensure that these schools are properly run not only by qualified people but by people who will not undermine the character of children of that age?
I doubt very much if the reasons given by the Deputy are the reasons why children are being sent to these nursery schools. Apart from nursery schools, there are nurseries and play groups. It does not seem very clear in most people's minds which is which. Generally speaking, because we have a very low admission age, I think it is not and would not be likely to be a matter for the Department of Education.
Is there not control of these schools in Britain? We seem very fond of imitating the British. To the best of my knowledge, there is control of these schools there.
I do not know.
As we are so fond of imitating the British, let the Minister imitate them here too.
Would I be correct in assuming from the Minister's reply that, while he might agree with the necessity for this supervision, he does not agree that his is the appropriate Department?
In some instances, perhaps there may be need for supervision, but not necessarily in relation to nursery schools. There might be in relation to some of the other categories.