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

On the purpose of the new Part VIIA of the Child Care Act 1991, the definition to be applied to a preschool service is as follows:

‘pre-school service’ means any pre-school, play group, day nursery, crèche, day-care or other similar service which caters for pre-school children.

The key elements of this definition in respect of the amendment proposed are the inclusion of the phrases "any pre-school ... or other similar service". The naíonraí are preschools and consequently, fall clearly within the bounds of this definition. Even were it to be argued that this definition does not hold sway by virtue of the naíonraí conducting their service through the medium of Irish, there then can be no argument with the application of the term, "other similar service", given that the cohort of children served in the naíonraí are those aged from two to five, that is, before they reach school-going age. If methodologies such as language immersion are to be cited in the Act, then for completeness and consistency it would be necessary to list all such similar methodologies such as, for example, Montessori, Steiner or HighScope, to name but a few. It also would require that as best practice changes in the early years sector and as new thinking emerges, such new methodologies also would require listing. Primary legislation does not, in general, spell out the minute detail of every aspect required for a provision but rather the broad intent of the Legislature. In this instance, I believe it is quite clear that naíonraí are encompassed in the definition. I hope the Senator will accept this point.