Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the authority which is responsible for overseeing the safety and well-being of children in child care; if it is open to the public to make complaints regarding specific providers under this provision; if she has made arrangements for the compiling of statistics in regard to the compliance with standards of child care in different premises and in regard to the number of complaints made, investigated and adjudicated upon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5005/05]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services.

This includes responsibility for overseeing the safety and well-being of children in pre-school child care in accordance with the Child Care Act 1991 and the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 1996 and Child Care (Pre-School Services) (Amendment) Regulations 1997. It also includes dealing with complaints made by the public and compiling statistics in this regard. Accordingly, my Department has requested the national director of primary, community and continuing care in the Health Service Executive to investigate the matters raised and reply directly to the Deputy.