Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 549: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has plans to further regulate the child minding, child-care sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35564/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Pre-school services are currently regulated under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No. 2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991. Under the Regulations, pre-school services, including childminding services, are required to notify the Health Service Executive (HSE) of their services. It should be noted, however, that under Section 58 of the Child Care Act 1991, childminders taking care of not more than 3 pre-school children of different families in the childminder's home are exempt from the requirement to notify the HSE.

The scope of the existing Child Care Regulations is limited to pre-school children and does not include after-school services. The position in regard to after-school care services needs to be examined so that consideration can be given to introducing appropriate regulatory controls. 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. 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 in the near future.