Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the regulations regarding procedures for staff of crèches and nurseries for evacuating pre-school children in the event of an emergency; her plans to introduce or expand on such regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12161/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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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 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 3 September 2007.

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 (Amendment) Regulations 1997. 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.