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Thursday, 20 Jun 2013

Written Answers Nos. 218-27

Child Care Services Regulation

Ceisteanna (218)

Clare Daly

Ceist:

218. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has received or if her attention has been drawn to complaints regarding a crèche company (details supplied) in Beaumont, Dublin, in July 2011. [29735/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Preschool 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 implementation of the Regulations and the inspection of preschools is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE).

It is the practise, therefore, that any issues that arise in relation to the delivery of care in child-care services are referred to the HSE for their attention.

Child Care Services Regulation

Ceisteanna (219)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

219. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has had sight of the submission (details supplied) in respect of the current condition of child care here; her plans to address the current system following the "Prime Time Investigates" programme on the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29764/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Since the broadcast of the Prime Time programme on 28 May my Department has received a large volume of correspondence and submissions in relation to the events outlined in the programme. My officials are endeavouring to examine and reply to these correspondents as quickly as possible. In the meantime, I have outlined, to both the Dáil and the Seanad, and in replies to previous Dail questions my response to the distressing events highlighted in this programme.

The programme showed us what happens when you don’t invest in building an effective system and culture of qualify-focussed, child-centred service provision, and when you don’t invest in robust oversight and inspection.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to improve the quality of the free Preschool Year and, by extension, the quality of all early childhood care and education, through the implementation of standards and by reviewing training options for the workforce. These commitments have always been a key priority for me.

As part of this work programme, my Department and I have been progressing work on Ireland’s first-ever Early Years Strategy and this why we have been working on a comprehensive Preschool Quality Agenda.

We have identified 8 key areas of action which I believe need to be considered and addressed as a matter of urgency:

- increasing the qualification requirements for all staff in preschool services to a minimum standard at FETAC Level 5;

- improving the quality and curricular supports for preschool services when implementing the Síolta Framework and Aistear Curriculum;

- implementing the new National Preschool Standards;

- introducing a registration system for all preschool services;

- taking steps to make the inspection system more consistent and more robust;

- publishing inspection reports on-line as soon as possible;

- ensuring appropriate action is taken in response to findings of non-compliance; and

- increasing and widening the sanctions which can be taken for non-compliance.

Increasing the required qualification standards of child care staff

We are working to increase the required qualification standards of child-care staff. The majority of staff working in the sector now have qualifications to FETAC Level 5 and I believe that this should be made a requirement for all staff working in the sector by September 2015, and for new services by the earlier date of September 2014. I am also proposing that the minimum qualification requirement for Preschool Leaders within the Preschool Year should be increased from FETAC Level 5 to FETAC Level 6 from those dates also.

Supports for Aistear and Síolta.

We are working to improve support and mentoring for individual preschool services in implementing Síolta and Aistear. This is essential if we are to ensure that all services understand and implement a child-centred approach to the care and education of young children.

Implementing the new National Preschool Standards.

We are developing new National Preschool Standards, designed to support providers in delivering a high quality service and parents in choosing the child care best suited to their needs. New day-care standards have been completed but have not yet been implemented. Later this year it is intended to launch these standards alongside further standards on sessional care and child-minding which are currently being finalised. These standards will replace all current guidelines and will be implemented and inspected in line with the new registration system and improved inspection systems.

Registration of all child-care providers.

Work is already underway in the Child and Family Services area of the Health Service Executive (HSE) to introduce a registration system for preschool services. I understand this system will be in place for new services from the end of this year and will be phased in for existing services thereafter. This is an important development because it will move services from the current position, where they are required to notify the Preschool Inspectorate of their intention to open, to a requirement to be inspected and found satisfactory, before being permitted to open. All preschool services are currently required to pay an annual fee to the HSE of between €40 and €80. I am looking at increasing this fee. The additional funds raised will assist in improving inspection and supports for quality improvement.

Publication of Inspection Reports.

Parents will rightly demand and expect the highest standards and this will be a key factor in driving change in the sector. Publishing inspection reports is an essential step in ensuring high standards and accountability. All new inspection reports will be made available on-line from the HSE as a matter of urgency. All current inspection reports will be made available on-line in 2014.

Taking steps to make the inspection system more consistent and more robust.

We are working on developing a more robust, consistent and regular inspection system There has been a significant programme of work underway in the HSE over the past year to develop a single, consistent national inspection service (as opposed to 37 different local systems).

We propose moving to a position where there is consistent and assured national target rate for the frequency of inspection of preschool services, while ensuring capacity for prioritisation based on risk assessment. The HSE is currently reviewing the regional spread of inspectors with a view to identifying whether either additional resources or redeployment of existing inspectors is required to achieve this.

Building on this work, officials of my Department and the Department of Education and Skills have been examining options to incrementally develop a more comprehensive and broader-based inspection regime for preschools; moving away from a narrow focus on compliance, and leading to a greater focus on children's outcomes, including educational development and child well-being. This work is being informed by the findings of a recent Joint Pilot Inspection carried out in a small number of settings by Inspectors from the Health Service Executive and the Department of Education and Skills.

Ensuring appropriate action is taken in response to findings of non-compliance.

We are working to ensure consistent action is taken in response to findings of non-compliance. There must be a follow-through on inspections. Clearly, services which are found to be in serious breach of the Regulations will face closure and prosecution. It is proposed to develop a protocol with the Preschool Inspectorate which will take a calibrated approach and which will enable more decisive action to be taken in response to non-compliance.

Increased Sanctions for non-compliance.

My Department will also be undertaking a review of the penalties currently in place for breach of the Child Care (No. 2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under the Child Care Act 1991. The review will look at increasing the range and severity of the existing penalties including the actions which can be taken by Inspectors without recourse to court prosecution, as is currently the case.

The recent broadcast highlighted practices on the part of individual staff members which were of very serious concern. The responsibility of management must also be the subject of questioning. Management is responsible for the selection and training of staff, the development of operational policies and practices and the management of day to day service delivery. Most of all management is responsible for the culture and ethos of the preschool – they set the tone through their example, their interaction with children and parents and their guidance of staff.

This preschool quality agenda represents an essential building block towards the future extension of universal preschool provision; including the objective which I have previously spoken of in relation to introducing a second free preschool year.

I believe it is critical to the quality agenda for early childhood care and education that my Department continues to work in close co-operation with the Department of Education and Skills, given the overlap of interest between the Departments in regard to education for children under 6 years of age, as reflected in Síolta, Aistear and the Workforce Development Plan, and the professional training role of the State funded training bodies. The two Departments are already working together on these issues and on the development of a joint approach to preschool inspection.

Early Child Care Education Issues

Ceisteanna (220)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

220. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has studied the submission of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare regarding the provisions of the early childhood care and education scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29765/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I am aware that the issue of additional supports for children who are accessing preschool services has been raised with my Department.

While additional flexibility is provided in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme to enable children with special needs to avail of the free preschool provision, there is no further resources available to my Department to provide additional supports for children who need specialist support in the preschool setting. Responsibility for the provision of any such specialised support is a matter for the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive.

You may wish to note that in this regard, my Department has been actively working with the Department of Health, specifically the Office of Disability and Mental Health, with the aim of building better supports to facilitate the inclusion of children with special needs in mainstream preschool settings.

Children in Care

Ceisteanna (221)

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

221. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding mothers-to-be from England and Wales who travel here to give birth in maternity hospitals in order that their newborn babies will not be taken into care in the UK and in view of the fact that children taken into care in the UK can be placed for adoption; the number of newborn babies who have been taken into care here under these circumstances for the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29769/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I have been advised by the HSE that they do not collate information on the nationality of parents of children in care.

Section 3 (1) of the Child Care Act 1991 states that "it shall be the function of every health board (HSE) to promote the welfare of children in its area who are not receiving adequate care and protection". Any child, regardless of its parents place of birth, who resides in Ireland and who is not receiving adequate care and protection is subject to this legislation and thus can be received into the care of the state if deemed to be the appropriate action required.

Children in Care

Ceisteanna (222)

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

222. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding children of mothers from England and Wales who would be taken into care in England and Wales if they return to England and Wales, who are now in the care of the Health Service Executive; the number of such children in HSE care for the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29770/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I have requested the information from the HSE and I will revert to the Deputy when this information is to hand.

Child Care Services Funding

Ceisteanna (223)

Michael Creed

Ceist:

223. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a community preschool (details supplied) has not yet received notification of its funding from Pobal for September 2013; if she will intervene in order to expedite such notification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29776/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme is implemented by my Department and provides funding to community child-care services to enable them to provide child care at reduced rates to disadvantaged and low income families. Under the CCS community services are required to make an annual return to the Childcare Directorate in my Department indicating the actual level of disadvantage among parents using their service and the level of service being used.

Parental returns are submitted by participating child-care services in the autumn of each year following the commencement of the school year. When the information submitted is verified the total subvention figure for which the services qualifies is calculated and this is communicated to Pobal, who assist my Department in administering the programme. In regard to the service referred to by the Deputy, a total of €45,777 was initially approved for the school year 2012/2013 and I understand that this amount has been paid to the service by Pobal. A small number of outstanding applications for subvention support by parents enrolled in this service are presently being determined and the service will be advised of the outcome of this process later this month.

A similar procedure will apply for child-care services participating in the CCS programme in the school year commencing in September 2013.

Question No. 224 withdrawn.

Child Care Services Provision

Ceisteanna (225, 226)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

225. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 870 of 11 June 2013, the person who will be responsible for inspecting educational standards when the work moves to the planned Child and Family Agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29986/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

226. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 872 of 11 June 2013, if early education standards are still being assessed by public health nurses and the Health Service Executive environmental health officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29987/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together.

As the Deputy is aware and as referenced in my response of 11 June to Question Nos. 870 and 872 the options for the development of a more comprehensive and broader-based inspection regime for preschools is being considered by officials of my Department and the Department of Education and Skills. This work is ongoing and is being informed by the findings of a recent Joint Pilot Inspection carried out in a small number of settings by Inspectors from the Health Service Executive and the Department of Education and Skills.

Public Sector Staff Data

Ceisteanna (227)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

227. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of persons employed within the public sector by her Department or agency and by grade for each year of the five consecutive years for which the most recent data is available. [30450/13]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The following table sets out the numbers of whole-time equivalent employees by grade in relation to my own Department at the end of each year since establishment in June 2011. The Deputy may wish to note that the increase in staffing at my Department from 2011 to 2012 takes account of the transfer of functions for the Irish Youth Justice Service from the Department of Justice and Equality in January 2012 and the corresponding redeployment of civil servants associated with that work. As my Department does not routinely hold this level of detailed information in respect of agencies under it's remit, I have asked that the information requested be supplied directly to the Deputy by the agencies involved.

Grade

December 2011

December 2012

Secretary General

1.00

1.00

Assistant Secretary

2.00

1.00

Director

0.00

2.00

Principal Officer

9.30

13.40

Assistant Principal

19.33

21.33

Higher Executive Officer

18.73

23.10

Administrative Officer

4.00

4.00

Executive Officer

23.73

29.43

Staff Officer

2.40

2.10

Clerical Officer

22.60

25.30

Services Officer

3.00

3.00

Ministerial Appointments

6.00

6.00

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