James Breen (Clare, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 146: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the measures she will put in place to ensure that all crèches and child care facilities are inspected on a regular basis in counties Clare and Limerick and north County Tipperary as figures in a newspaper (details supplied) reveal that 28 of 370 were inspected in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12292/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary affairs division of the executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

I am aware, however, that in response to the newspaper article to which the Deputy refers, the Health Service Executive has informed my Department that the total number of annual pre-school inspections undertaken in the mid-west region in 2005 was 365, with a further 61 follow up visits. The number of notified services in that region is calculated at 445 in February 2006 and not 370 as published.