Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the focus of this debate on the transparency that needs to exist. RTE changed the context in which we are having this discussion by bringing to it the national focus I have advocated from the moment I was appointed Minister. A number of the Senators and Deputies present have a close interest in this area but the kind of national focus that now obtains is important. When I hear members speak about inspection regimes for restaurants and farms, I ask why we do not pay the same attention to the care of children under the age of five. That is precisely the point I have been making as Minister.

We all need to focus on services for children under the age of five and the nature of the inspection regimes, compliance levels and qualifications. Deputy Ó Caoláin noted that I used the word "considered" but I also used the phrase "addressed as a matter of urgency". I assure members that is the case. Since setting up the early years group, I have been aware of the need to focus on this sector. This is why I gave the group terms of reference which included examining services for children under the ages of five, three and one. Parents, not to mention the country, will need these services in the future. Not everyone enjoys the support of parents, grandparents or neighbours. We have to offer that reassurance to parents. I acknowledge the point made by members that the programme must have been upsetting for parents. I think a shiver ran up the spine of every parent and, indeed, citizen in this country when they saw the disturbing images contained in this programme.

I am dealing with the issue of inspection in the same way that I brought the Health Information and Quality Authority, HIQA, into the area of child protection. It is important that the inspection reports are online. I will ask Mr. Jeyes to deal with the details and timeframe for that initiative. By publishing the reports online we can provide parents with transparency and thereby allow them to feel more confident about these services.

Deputy Troy asked what it takes to close down a facility. Even with the low level of sanctions, it has been difficult to pursue prosecutions. The question arises of what is considered acceptable. We have to move to a more graduated approach whereby the response is appropriate to the level of difficulties exposed in a child care setting. We cannot deal with every issue in the same way and our sanctions must be appropriate. I will amend the child care legislation and am examining how that can be done. We will bring forward those amendments at the earliest opportunity.

The Deputy also asked about safety and well-being. We have learned the hard way in respect of child abuse and protection that a range of factors are required to work together. It requires a change in culture, training, information and education, and it requires people to act when they see abuse. There is no simple solution. We must act in a range of areas. Certainly the robust inspection regime I have outlined will be important. The changes to the inspection regime will be informed by the new national standards to be introduced in September. I met the inspectors last week. The new standards will ensure inspections are based on a set of criteria that focus on quality and care.

The mentoring programme is important. Clearly, that is a budgetary issue which will have to be discussed. When approximately €300 million was taken back several years ago after the establishment of the early childhood care and education, ECCE, scheme, the money was not reinvested in dealing with quality issues. We are now trying to address these issues after the services were established. Under the ECCE scheme, Pobal has been working to ensure compliance, but the RTE programme revealed issues with compliance in respect of children aged three and under. These issues will be addressed through a more robust inspection regime, through management taking its responsibilities seriously and through changed recruitment practices.

Deputy Ó Caoláin referred to the new child and family support agency, the legislation for which is close to completion. The legislation comprises more than 160 pages over 100 heads. It is the largest public sector reform this Government has pursued, with more than 4,000 staff involved. We will bring the legislation before the Government in the next few weeks. I pay tribute to my officials and Mr. Jeyes and his team for the huge amount of work they have done on the legislation. People have discussed the need to bring a focus to children's services, and this Government is introducing that reform.

I ask Mr. Jeyes to respond to the specific questions on inspections.