Michael Ring
Ceist:656 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the revenue made in each health board region in 1999 for inspections of child care facilities; and the plans he has to abolish this fee. [1721/01]
Written Answers. - Child Care Facilities.
Article 31(1) of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations, 1996, provides that an annual fee towards the cost of inspections under Part VII of the Child Care Act, 1991, shall be paid by the pre-school provider to the local health board. The amount of the fee as set out in the regulations is as follows: (a) where the service provided does not exceed 3.5 hours in the day – £25, and (b) in all other cases – £50. The regulations also provide that a health board may exempt from a fee a person carrying on a pre-school service in which no pre-school child is maintained for profit.
Based on the most up to date information available from the health boards the fees collected by the health boards in 1999 together with the number of facilities exempt from fees are as follows:
|
Health Board |
Total collected– £50 Fees |
Total collected– £25 Fees |
Total Collected |
No ofwaivers/exemptions |
|
ERHA |
* |
* |
* |
|
|
MHB |
£650 |
£550 |
£1,200 |
11 |
|
NEHB |
£2,650 |
£4,300 |
£6,950 |
52 |
|
NWHB |
£700 |
£200 |
£900 |
8 |
|
MWHB |
£3,350 |
£4,075 |
£7,425 |
60 |
|
SEHB |
£1,600 |
£2,600 |
£4,200 |
77 |
|
SHB |
£2,100 |
£3,625 |
£5725 |
47 |
|
WHB |
£2,000 |
£1,425 |
£3,425 |
89 |
* Information from the Eastern Regional Health Authority is not yet to hand. It will be forwarded to the Deputy when available. Health boards have indicated that fees collected assist with the cost of: administration of pre-school inspections; an advisory service for pre-school providers; in-service training for service providers; good practice guidelines and information packs which are made available to pre-school providers and supports to community and voluntary play groups.
A review of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations, 1996, due to commence this year will provide an opportunity to examine the operation of the various requirements of the regulations, including annual fees.