David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 222: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the additional direction she has given and the contact she has had with the city and county child care committees in respect of the voluntary notification system for childminders who wish to avail of the new childminding relief scheme since its introduction in budget 2006; the additional staff that have been employed by the child care committees to deal with notifications; the functions of these staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13432/06]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of inquiries her office has received regarding the voluntary notification system for childminders wishing to avail of the new tax exemption since its introduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13433/06]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of inquiries the city and county child care committees have received with regard to voluntary notification for childminders since the introduction of the new tax exemption; the breakdown of same per child care committee; the number of notifications the child care committees have received since the introduction of the tax exemption; the breakdown of same per child care committee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13434/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 to 224, inclusive, together.

While the tax exemption which is being introduced for income from childminding is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners in the first instance, to avail of it a childminder must elect to make a voluntary notification of his or her childminding service to the person recognised by the HSE for this purpose, effectively the local city or county child care committee, CCC. This will further strengthen the voluntary notification system already operated by the CCCs and supported by the childminder advisory officers.

To answer the Deputy's questions, it is necessary to outline the position in regard to notification, both voluntary and as required under the Child Care Act 1991. Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991 provides for the supervision of pre-school services, including the imposition of a requirement on persons operating pre-school services to notify their service to the Health Service Executive, HSE. A number of categories of persons providing pre-school services are excluded from this requirement, including a person taking care of not more than three pre-school children of different families, other than that person's own such children, in that person's home. A pre-school child is defined as a child who has not attained the age of six years and who is not attending a national school or a school providing an educational programme similar to a national school.

Many childminders are covered by this exemption, however, to facilitate childminders who wish to participate in and avail of the range of quality initiatives introduced under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-06, EOCP, a voluntary notification system was introduced and is operated at local level through the CCCs established under the EOCP. Some 1,000 childminders have notified their local CCC under this system. As the Minister of State with special responsibility for children, I will be responsible for the administration of both the EOCP and the new National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010.

It will be clear from the above that the necessary arrangements and staffing to operate the voluntary notification system were already in place prior to the introduction of the tax exemption announced in budget 2006. The additional numbers of notifications by childminders arising from the introduction of the tax exemption will be accommodated within these existing arrangements and will not give rise to a need for additional staffing or other resources. As the Deputy will appreciate, a wide range of new measures in respect of child care were announced in budget 2006, including the new National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 under which the CCCs will have an enhanced role in identifying and supporting local child care needs. As a result, steps are being taken to further develop and resource the CCCs. In addition, the OMC held a major conference in January 2006 to outline the new programme and budget changes to the CCCs. This has been followed by a series of seminars and information sessions to assist the CCCs in carrying out their role.

With regard to the number of inquiries received and voluntary notifications made to the CCCs since the budget announcement, I understand from inquiries and the information available that the position is as indicated in the following table. Where it has not been possible to obtain details in the time available, I will arrange for this information to be forwarded to you in the coming days. I understand that the OMC has not recorded any significant number of enquiries regarding the exemption. It is not possible to say at this stage whether any significant increase in enquiries or notifications will arise in the period between now and October 2007 when the first tax returns in relation to the exemption will be due for return.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 225: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of childminders who are currently notified and registered with the Health Service Executive and for each year since 2004; the breakdown of same for each Health Service Executive area; the number of children these childminders are looking after; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13435/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 226: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the procedure in place with regard to notification to the Health Service Executive by childminders; the steps that are taken by the Health Service Executive following notification; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13436/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Childminders who care for more than three pre-school children of different families, other than their own pre-school children, in the childminders' own homes are required to notify the Health Service Executive in accordance with section 51(2) of the Child Care Act 1991 and article 11(1) of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 1996 and Child Care (Pre-School Services) (Amendment) Regulations 1997. Notification must be given in writing at least 28 days in advance of the commencement of the service on a form as set out in the schedule to regulations or on a similar form.

The steps taken by the Health Service Executive following notification relate 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 a reply issued directly to the Deputy concerning this matter.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the functions of the pre-school services inspectorate; if its remit extends to the inspection of the homes of childminders who have notified the Health Service Executive and CCCs; the guidelines or legislation in place governing the inspection of childminders homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13437/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for the implementation of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 1996 and (Amendment) Regulations 1997, which give effect to the provisions of Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991 and provide for notification to and inspection by the Health Service Executive of pre-school services. The regulations apply to pre-schools, play groups, day nurseries, crèches, childminders looking after more than three pre-school children other than their own such children in the childminders' own homes and other similar services which cater for children under six years of age.

The notification and inspection service is managed by the pre-school inspection teams of the Health Service Executive, which are appointed by the executive as authorised persons for this purpose. These teams also provide an advisory service to the services that are statutorily required to notify in order to assist them in achieving and maintaining the appropriate standard. They also provide information to interested persons, including parents, on pre-school services in the area.

Following inspection of a service, the inspector provides the service provider with a report on the outcome of the inspection. The teams then work closely with service providers in addressing the recommendations of the inspection reports. Where persistent breaches of legislation occur, the Health Service Executive can initiate prosecutions. In addition, the inspection teams, on receipt of a warrant from the District Court, can inspect a premises where it is believed that a pre-school service is being carried on without notification having been given to the Health Service Executive.

In 2001, a childminder advisory service was put in place to support and advise childminders of pre-school children who are exempt from notification under the legislation, that is, those caring for three or fewer pre-school children, a sibling group of pre-school children or pre-school children of relatives. Such childminders are encouraged to voluntarily notify this service. The childminder advisory service is operated at local level through the CCCs-HSE. The childminder advisory officers provide networking opportunities, advice, advisory visits, support and training for childminders who voluntarily notify.