Mr. Toby Wolfe:

To answer why it took RTE to uncover this, we have very little concrete data on the quality of early care and education in this country, and the lack of data, monitoring and evaluation is a systemic problem which we must address. Publication of the inspection reports will help and will shed some light, but only a little because of limitations on the types of questions asked and in the composition of the inspection teams. The composition of inspection teams needs to change. We need broader teams with broader quality focus. One of our recommendations is for an audit of quality of practice to be carried out, perhaps of the type done in New Zealand at the beginning of its early years strategy which allowed it to monitor progress during the course of its strategy.

There was a question on the registration system. Senator van Turnhout asked if we wanted the registration of services or staff - I believe both. We certainly need a registration system for services and I believe steps are already being taken to introduce that. However, we also need a register of qualified early childhood professionals, which would show, for example, those who have achieved the minimum qualification requirements or gone on to a graduate level, those who have Garda vetting and those who are meeting continuing professional development, CPD, requirements. We may need changes to the Garda vetting system to achieve that, but that is the sort of thing we need if we are to develop this sector as a profession.

There was also a question about qualification levels for dealing with children aged under three and the difference between that and the free preschool year, especially given that the "Prime Time" programme focused on children aged under three. A problem at the moment is that we have higher standards involving a minimum qualification requirement in respect of the free preschool year but not in respect of younger children. Moving to minimum qualifications for all is a step in the right direction. Quality matters for children of all ages and in all settings. That is why children aged under three matter and, if anything, children's development is even faster in the very early years. The regulation in support of childminders is critical because a very large proportion of young children are being cared for every day by unregulated childminders.