Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 November 2019
573. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the quality supports provided to a crèche (details supplied); and if quality supports were provided, the impact the results of the Better Start and the preschool inspectorate reports provided in terms of assessment. [47127/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraA number of quality supports have been provided to the service in question, including by Better Start. While both inspectorates of preschool services have inspected the service, their inspection reports are not intended to provide an assessment of the quality supports provided.
In relation to the service in question, the Better Start Quality Development Service assigned an Early Years Specialist to work with the service from November 2015 to September 2016. The Early Years Specialist visited the service on 13 occasions during this time and made recommendations to the service on ways to improve quality.
In addition, Dublin City Childcare Committee has over a period of years delivered a range of quality supports to services in the area. These supports have included child protection training, equality and diversity training, and introductory training in the Aistear curriculum framework.
Both inspectorates have inspected the service in question. Reports have been published on inspections carried out in 2017 and 2016 respectively by the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate and the Inspectorate of the Department of Education and Skills. The published Tusla inspection report noted a number of areas of non-compliance with Regulations and specified corrective and preventive actions to address non-compliance. The published report also notes where corrective and preventive actions taken were deemed to be satisfactory or if the non-compliance remained outstanding.
