Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister did not answer my question. All he will say is that this is an operational matter for Tusla. Why is it that having brought forward legislation to put the process on a statutory basis, it is yet to kick into action 15 months later? The Minister should know the answer to that question. He referred to the new standards to guide the inspection process. The process to reform these standards started in 2010. After the "Prime Time " exposé, the Minister's predecessor committed to prioritising the publication of new standards. Almost two years later, the new standards have yet to be published. What is the reason for the delay?

We have a situation where Tusla is charged with responsibility for inspecting the preschool regulations and Pobal is responsible for inspection from a compliance and funding perspective. Meanwhile, the most recent announcement refers to inspections by the Department of Education and Skills. Again, this latest measure was introduced without any consultation with Tusla. The chief executive officer of the agency recently said he was embarrassed to learn that it was, in fact, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs which had requested the Department of Education and Skills to carry out the new inspections.

Why is the new registration process not in operation 15 months after it was put on a statutory basis? Why have the standards promised more than two years ago not been published? Why has a situation developed where the chief executive officer of Tusla is embarrassed that the Department of Children and Youth Affairs requested the Department of Education and Skills to start a new inspections process?

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