Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the date on which she will complete a review of the regulatory environment of pre-school and after school services including the existing provision of pre-school inspections. [19890/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Pre-school services are regulated currently under Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No. 2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991. Under the regulations, the Pre-School Inspectorate of the Health Service Executive (HSE) carry out inspections of pre-school services with the objective of securing the health, safety and welfare of children attending them.

The scope of the existing Child Care Regulations is limited to pre-school children and does not include after-school services. I believe the position in regard to after-school care services needs to be examined so that consideration can be given to introducing appropriate regulatory controls. In addition, I believe the introduction of the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which is implemented by my Department, is a very significant development for pre-school services which should be taken into account when a review of the Child Care Regulations is undertaken.

Arrangements are already in train between officials in my Department and the Department of Education and Science and the HSE, for an evaluation of ECCE services to be carried out later this year. The evaluation would involve the Education Inspectorate, possibly in conjunction with the HSE Inspectorate. This will assist the general review of the regulatory environment and inspection process for pre-school and after-school services which I expect will be undertaken towards the end of this year.