Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 321: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if staff who work in crèche facilities in the private sector are subject to Garda vetting requirements; if such facilities are subject to Health Service Executive inspections and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32820/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 which I signed recently and which will come into effect on 2 January 2007, provide that pre-school service providers must acquire garda vetting in respect of all staff, students and volunteers working in a pre-school service — when An Garda Síochána have set down procedures to make such vetting available.

In line with the recommendations of the Garda Vetting Report and the expansion of the Garda Central Vetting Unit, the Garda vetting service is being expanded by means of a phased roll-out within resource capacities. The roll out is accompanied by training for organisations who will be submitting the vetting applications. The expansion will continue over this year and next year and beyond until vetting is provided for all personnel working in a full time, part-time or voluntary capacity with children and vulnerable adults. This will include all workers involved in the childcare sector.

Garda vetting is of course only one aspect of an appropriate vet. References from previous employers, carefully validated by prospective employers, are also an essential safeguard in this process. The revised Regulations provide that such references be obtained.

Garda vetting is currently required as a condition of funding in respect of every childcare employee for whom projects are in receipt of staffing grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP), excluding FAS funded employees on Job Initiative (J.I.), Community Employment (C.E.) and Social Economy Programmes. Such funding is not available to private childcare facilities run on a commercial basis.

The Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 1996 and (Amendment) Regulations 1997 give effect to 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, playgroups, day nurseries, crèches, childminders looking after more than three children and other similar services which cater for children under six years of age. The Health Service Executive has statutory responsibility for the implementation of these Regulations.

Judgments as to whether a pre-school service is in compliance with the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 1996 and (Amendment) Regulations 1997 are made on inspection by the pre-school services inspection teams of the Health Service Executive. This responsibility will continue to lie with the Health Service Executive on the introduction of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 on 2 January 2007.