10 Meith 2013, 14:49
Concerns about childcare facilities and inspections will be raised by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children when it meets with Minister for Children & Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald and senior officials at its meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, June 11th 2013.
Attending tomorrow’s meeting are: Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs; Gordon Jeyes, Programme Director Agency Establishment, CEO Designate, Child and Family Support Agency; Annie Callanan, Head of Quality Children and Families Services; Fiona McDonnell National Specialist Early Years, Health Service Executive; Irene Gunning, Chief Executive Officer, Early Childhood Ireland; and Toby Wolfe, Acting Director, Startstrong.
Committee Chairman, Jerry Buttimer TD said: “In light of the recent RTÉ Prime Time programme which revealed shocking mistreatment of children at a number of crèches, the Committee will have an opportunity to discuss our serious concerns about child welfare and standards in crèches. We will be keen to establish what will be done to unearth and stop bad practices, address poor childcare standards and reform the systems for childcare in this State. This meeting will be an opportunity to raise the concerns of so many parents and to make clear that enforcement of appropriate standards must be prioritised. Our meeting will also focus on concerns around vetting, inspections, enforcement, sanctions and regulation.”
This meeting will take place in Committee Room 1 at 5pm tomorrow, Tuesday, 11th June 2013.
Committee proceedings can be followed live at:
http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/watchlisten/
For further information please contact:
Ciaran Brennan,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
Committee Membership:
Deputies
Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael
Catherine Byrne, Fine Gael
Sandra McLellan, Sinn Fein
Ciara Conway, Labour Party
Regina Doherty, Fine Gael
Robert Dowds, Labour Party
Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael
Seamus Healy, Independent
Billy Kelleher, Fianna Fáil
Eamonn Maloney, Labour Party
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael
Mattie McGrath, Independent
Denis Naughten, Independent
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Sinn Fein
Robert Troy, Fianna Fáil
Senators
Colm Burke, Fine Gael
John Crown, Independent
John Gilroy, Labour Party
Imelda Henry, Fine Gael
Marc Mac Sharry, Fianna Fáil
Jillian Van Turnhout, Independent