Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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17. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to ensure highest standards are reached and adhered to and an appropriate inspection regime across all preschool child care facilities is in place; the timeframe for achieving both; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47838/13]

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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In the aftermath of the "Prime Time" investigation into preschool care, "A Breach of Trust", there was considerable concern about how to ensure the failures highlighted in that programme would be rectified and prevented from recurring. The programme found that most preschools are inspected once every 20 months and that many experts believe the child care regulations are too basic and poorly enforced. Compliance levels were also found to be low, and the programme concluded that 75% of preschools and crèches were in breach of the child care regulations. Can the Minister outline what progress there has been since then?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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There has been huge progress and massive change. The first point is the fact that we now have 1,672 inspections of child care facilities online. This is the first time these reports have been available online. Previously, parents or the media had to submit a freedom of information request to get access to those reviews. We also have the most recent inspection reports provided immediately online on an ongoing basis. There are now 12 of those online. That is the first major change.

The second is that we are currently discussing legislation to register services. Providers did not have to register services up to now, but we now have registration. The third change under way is that we are changing the way inspectors inspect the facilities. We will shortly publish new national standards against which the inspectors will judge the early years services. That is a major change and will be very helpful regarding the points the Deputy correctly outlines about concerns in respect of quality.

The other change under way is that the State, for the first time, is investing in quality in early years services. We are setting up a mentoring programme. There will be at least 40 mentors throughout the country who will work with the early years services to improve standards. It has been proven internationally and in Ireland, through pilot programmes, that the way to improve quality standards is not just through inspection but also through working directly with the providers in improving the quality of care they give to children. That is under way at present.

We have invested in a training programme for those who wish to increase their qualifications - from next year it will be mandatory that they have FETAC level 5 qualifications to work in this sector - to ensure the FETAC courses will be undertaken by more people.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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While I welcome many of those changes, more progress is required. This country does not provide child care properly. We have outsourced, in effect, it to the private and voluntary sectors and the State has abdicated its responsibility. We do not invest in child care properly either. Even after the introduction of the free preschool year, we spend 0.4% of GDP on preschool education, which is approximately half of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD, average. Many countries spend far more.

There is a need for reform generally in the area of preschool education. In particular, the first priority is ensuring welfare and that standards are adequate in the sector. The "Prime Time" report found that 34% of crèches were in breach of five or more regulations and that 29% were in breach of regulation 19, concerning overcrowding and upkeep of premises. Will the Minister give a more up-to-date report on compliance levels and whether there has been a substantial improvement in that area? I understand the HSE recently began the process of uploading inspection reports online. Will the Minister outline when the reports from all counties will be available online?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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There is a huge amount of work involved in reviewing the reports and ensuring there is a standardised approach for the future. That is being done. As I said, the inspection reports are being published county by county. It is just a question of the time it takes. We expect that by the middle of next year, all the reports on inspections that have taken place will be available. It is important to remember there has been a huge increase in the number of preschool services from the late 1990s to now. It has increased from 1,000 to 4,700. In terms of inspecting those 4,700 and ensuring there is quality, I agree with the Deputy there has not been enough focus on this. That is changing with the initiatives I have outlined. I am confident, too, that there is a greater awareness among parents with regard to questioning their providers, asking them about the inspection reports and raising any quality issues they have. That is very healthy.

There is a range of initiatives under way which should deal with the issues the Deputy outlined and the concerns about quality.