Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 February 2019
29. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the implications the new after-school care regulations will have for schools and childcare providers; and her views on whether sufficient consultation was conducted with the affected groups. [7238/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI ask the Minister about the status of the affordable childcare scheme and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Is that the first question, No. 29? That is a different question.
I am sorry; my apologies.
That is all right. The Deputy will be asking that question later.
I ask the Minister if her attention has been drawn to the implications the new after-school care regulations will have for schools and childcare providers; and her views on whether sufficient consultation was conducted with the affected groups.
I signed important new regulations recently which will come into force on 18 February. These will enable school-age childcare services to register with Tusla in time to take part in the affordable childcare scheme when it opens later this year. The scheme will make school-age childcare more affordable for many parents. The regulation of school-age childcare is an important measure to secure children’s health, safety and welfare. The affordable childcare scheme will only be available to services that are registered with Tusla, a critical quality assurance measure associated with the provision of State funding.
I am conscious of the impact that the regulations will have on providers, and I have made provisions accordingly. With regard to registration, existing services will have six months in which to apply for registration with Tusla if they are also registered as preschool services. Existing services that only provide school-age childcare will have three months in which to apply for registration with Tusla. A person who proposes to set up a new service will be required to apply for registration at least three months before commencing the service.
The regulations, including the minimum ratio requirement of one adult to 12 children, were developed following the advice of the school age childcare standards working group, which in 2018 submitted proposals for school-age childcare standards. Membership of the group included representatives from across the school-age childcare sector. In developing its proposals, the working group reviewed international evidence and practice. It was reconvened for a further meeting with officials in September 2018, during drafting of the regulations, for consultation specifically on the adult-child ratio and outdoor space requirements.
I acknowledge that some services may require additional time to adjust to the minimum ratio of one adult to 12 children. Officials in my Department have had discussions on this issue recently with a number of sector representatives. As a result of these consultations, I have decided to extend the commencement date of the minimum ratio requirements by six months. I acknowledge the Deputy's representations in this regard.
I thank the Minister. I am starting from the position that I am not opposed to the measures to increase the quality of childcare. I have been speaking for a long time about the lack of legislation and regulation in respect of the after-school sector. I am hesitant about the quick delivery of the ratio of 1:12 because some of the services may not have been working within the terms of that regulation. It will also take time to list and register the services. Will we have enough staff within Tusla to facilitate the applications which will come in? How are we going to monitor adherence to statements of purpose and function, complaints policies, policies on the administration of medication, policies on infection control, policies on managing behaviour, fire safety, child safeguarding statements, safety statements, and all of the regulations to which we expect adherence? How will we ensure that adherence is inspected? Do we have the staff to do that?
On the issue of when the adult-child ratio I have identified will commence and whether services will have time to prepare for the transition - the first issue raised by the Deputy - services will be given until 18 August to become fully compliant with these specific requirements, irrespective of the date on which they register with Tusla. As stated, I have now signed the necessary regulations. Furthermore, public consultation is planned for this summer in advance of the development of a fuller set of regulations - the Deputy knows that we will be developing these. They will replace the initial regulations and will cover additional quality objectives.
The Deputy also raised the question of whether Tusla will be ready for this. My understanding is that it will be, and has been, preparing in that regard. Obviously it has taken a while to develop these regulations. Many people have been consulted. That is all part of the preparation.
I also wish to query the role of the city and county childcare committees in the delivery of these regulations. Are they getting extra resources to ensure that all of those who decide to register and become compliant with the required policies and procedures will be able to do so? Will a standard template be rolled out to all after-school services to support them and to ensure that everybody hits the same benchmark at the same time and that everybody is on song by 18 August? Will the Minister be seeking feedback from the providers and the parents as to what they believe is a sufficient ratio? I know the ratio has been set at 1:12, but children in second and third class will be leaving a setting in which the ratio is 1:26 or 1:30 and going into a setting where the ratio is 1:12. I am sure we will need to get feedback in that regard.
These are really good questions. I acknowledge the Deputy's interest and representation in this regard. It really helps us do the work we do. Her first question, which had regard to county and city childcare committees, is an excellent one. As the Deputy knows, the change we are bringing in for school-age childcare providers is significant. The Deputy is also aware that, as I have indicated, this has been a long time coming.
Research has been carried out and it has been consulted as part of the work of the working group. The report has come out and on the basis of that report, I have made my decisions. I have continued to listen to the sector and I have made some changes recently in that regard.
It is the job of the county and city childcare committees to support providers in the work they do. They would of course be aware of these matters. In other words, there is a long lead-in time. This is what they should be doing and I expect it is what they will be doing.
The Deputy asked about feedback. As we progress to a comprehensive set of regulations, I expect and hope the question around the ratios will be integral to that aspect of it.
