Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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208. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of relevant childcare facilities in existence in County Kildare; the procedures in place to conduct regular inspections of such facilities; if anything has emerged in recent years that has given cause for concern in relation to the operation of such facilities; if any such facilities have been closed within the past three years, or if directions have issued to any such centres in the past three years to significantly amend or review their operational systems; if parents of children attending such facilities have been so advised; the procedures in place to ensure the childcare facilities meet the highest possible standards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26181/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006, the inspection of pre-schools is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE), and I have referred the Deputy’s specific queries to the HSE for direct reply.

I understand that, in 2011, 2,789 childcare providers were subject to inspections by the HSE Pre-School Inspectorate. This is an inspection rate of over 61% in a single year. This compares very favourably with comparable jurisdictions such as England, where Ofsted operates a policy of inspecting childcare providers on a 3 – 4 year cycle.

However, as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, driving the early childhood care and education quality agenda is one of my key objectives. I believe we can achieve this objective by taking a number of steps in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills, including the adaptation of the existing pre-school inspection system to provide a more comprehensive and broader-based inspection regime for pre-schools, moving to a greater focus on outcomes for children.

In support of this, a Joint Pilot Inspection of Early Years Services was carried out by Inspectors from the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills between September 2011 and May 2012. This pilot will inform the proactive approach being taken by my Department.