Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
1263. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if evaluations for the pre-school educational year are taking place; if the results of such evaluations will be made available to the public to assist parents in making childcare decisions and to provide information to taxpayers. [38096/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe free pre-school year commenced in January 2010, so this year is only the third full year of operation. At this very early stage, there has been no formal evaluation of its operation. There has been considerable anecdotal evidence from school principals, the National Education and Welfare Board and parents of the effectiveness of the year in preparing children for school. These views are in line with international evidence on the importance of pre-school education.
Within Growing Up in Ireland, Ireland's longitudinal study of children and young people, data is currently being collected on five year olds. One of the ways that this data will be used is to develop an understanding of how the pre-school year is working. This research will be made available widely when it is finalised.
The Child Care Regulations, under which creches are inspected, focus on the welfare and well being of children, rather than specifically on education. As I have stated before, there are a number of reforms of our inspection system underway, including the introduction of registration, harmonisation of approach nationally and the introduction of National Standards on which inspections will be based. When those reforms have been implemented a major review of the regulations will take place with a view to ensuring that they reflect all aspects of children's care and education and that they incorporate the principles of both Aistear, the national curriculum framework for children aged 0-6 and Siolta, the national quality framework. In this context, in 2012 a pilot joint inspection between the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills Inspectorate took place, which looked at both welfare and wellbeing and education. My Department continues to work closely with the Department of Education and Skills to develop the regulations, standards and tools that will be required to develop and implement a new inspection regime.
Results of inspections of individual services will continue to be made available on line.
