Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 378: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her view on whether the proposed Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 are feasible particularly in view of the new adult to child ratio; her further view on whether this is sustainable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33988/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 provide that "a person carrying on a pre-school service shall ensure that a sufficient number of suitable and competent adults are working directly with the pre-school children in the pre-school service at all times". The changes to the age ranges and the adult-child ratios applying to each age range under the revised Regulations are set out in the Explanatory Guide to the Regulations as follows:

The new ratios for full day care are:

The above ratios will apply to part-time services also. For sessional services the new ratios are:

For drop-in centres the new ratios are:

There is a maximum group size for each age range in each category.

For childminders the new ratio is that a childminder (a person who provides a childminding service) should look after not more than 5 pre-school children including her own pre-school children. The ratio is currently not more than 6 pre-school children including her own pre-school children. No more than two children should be less than 15 months. Exceptions in relation to numbers under 15 months can be made for multiple births or siblings. If a childminder is caring for 6 pre-school children, including her own pre-school children, at the time of the commencement of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006, the childminder will not be required to reduce the number cared for to 5 until the first child from that group of 6 pre-school children begins to attend school or leaves the service voluntarily. The Review Group chaired by the Department of Health and Children which drew up the Regulations had representation from the Health Service Executive, the National Voluntary Childcare Organisations and other Departments. There was broad agreement across the Review Group membership on the ratio changes in the revised regulations. The Group applied the revised ratios and group sizes and revised space ratios to some existing services and found they did not have any significant impact in terms of reducing numbers that could be cared for or in terms of the cost of the service. The Explanatory Guide advises that the adult-child ratios be applied in a flexible manner in so far as is safe and practical to facilitate sibling interaction and mixed aged groupings. It also states that the total number of child care staff available in the service should be considered as opposed to the per room allocation so that staff are fully utilised.