Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State. The shocking revelations on the RTE "Prime Time" programme about the inspection procedures in crèches and child care facilities throughout the country appalled the nation. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, in the immediate aftermath of the programme, promised a great deal of reform and I have tabled this matter in that context. As chairman of Leitrim county child care committee, I am aware of a vacancy and, by extension, an inherent flaw in the inspection system in the county, which is also the case in other counties. In this instance, there has been a public health nurse vacancy for some time. The reason, I understand, is the Government embargo. If the Government parties are serious about ensuring an open, transparent and effective inspection regime, they need to move rapidly to appoint people to fill these vacancies. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation recently announced that it would not allow any of its members to be reassigned to these positions where they were required. It is asking the Government, as I am, to take the necessary steps to ensure the appointments are made.

The public health nurse inspections are serious and significant. They complement those of the environmental inspection officers by ensuring there is proper liaison between the children and child care workers. They also ensure there is discussion and liaison on the curriculum. All of these issues have come to the surface in the aftermath of the television programme. I will not labour this matter, as it is self-explanatory. I would like to establish when the Government will make these appointments and its policy on them.