Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2020
394. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a Montessori preschool contracted under the early childcare and education scheme which is inspected by her Department comes under the term school under the Education Act 1998; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13918/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe relevant section of the Education Act 1998, (Section (2)) as amended, provides the following definition of a school:
“ “school” means an establishment which—
(a) provides primary education to its students and which may also provide early childhood education……but does not include a school or institution established in accordance with the Children Acts, 1908 to 1989, or a school or institution established or maintained by the Health Service Executive in accordance with the Health Acts, 1947 to 1996, or the Child and Family Agency in accordance with the Child Care Act 1991.”
If an establishment comes within this statutory definition, then it is a school within the meaning of the 1998 Act.
Inspection of Early Learning and Care settings by the Inspectorate of the Department of Education commenced in April 2016. The Inspectorate of the Department of Education was commissioned in 2015, by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (now the Department of Children, Disability, Equality and Integration) to develop and implement an inspection model and associated programme of inspection in Early Learning and Care settings on contract to deliver the Free Preschool in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme. The grant agreement for the ECCE Programme signed by preschools availing of this funding clearly sets out the terms and conditions of this funding which include cooperation with inspection by the Inspectorate of the Department of Education.
