Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 15 Feb 2000

Vol. 514 No. 3

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

David Stanton

Ceist:

212 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Health and Children the qualifications, if any, required to work in crèches, pre-schools and playschools; the plans, if any, he has in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4092/00]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Ms Hanafin):

The Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations, 1996, which give effect to the provisions of Part VII of the Child Care Act, 1991, provide for notification to, and inspection by, health boards of pre-school services. The regulations apply to pre-schools, playgroups, day nurseries, crèches, child-minders looking after more than three children and other similar services which cater for children under six years of age.

The purpose of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations, 1996, is to build on the existing good standards in our pre-school services and gradually improve standards throughout the sector to secure the health, safety and welfare of pre-school children and to promote the development of children attending pre-school services.

Under the regulations, pre-school providers are obliged to notify their local health board that they are carrying on, or proposing to carry on, a pre-school service, rather than to register. On receipt of notification the health board will provide relevant information to the applicant and arrange for an inspection to be carried out by an authorised person.

Under Article 7 of these regulations, a person carrying on a pre-school service is required to "ensure that a sufficient number of competent adults are supervising the pre-school children in the service at all times." A competent adult is defined as a person who has appropriate experience in caring for children under six years of age and/or who has an appropriate qualification in child care and is a suitable person to care for children.

The child care strategy referred to in the National Development Plan, 2000-06, in which the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has a lead role and which will be facilitated by the national child care infrastructure, has among its objectives an increase in the quantity of childcare places and also an improvement in the quality of services available. In this context, the range of supports being developed includes training supports for community based childcare services and supports to enhance the national voluntary child care organisations which provide advice, support and training to child care service providers.

I might add that qualifications and training in the child care sector are among the issues addressed in the White Paper on early childhood Education, "Ready to Learn", which was launched recently by the Minister for Education and Science.