Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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651. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will publish her eight point plan which she outlined at a recent Joint Oireachtas Committee meeting for dealing with the deficiencies in crèches and or early childhood settings as exposed by recent RTÉ Primetime Investigates; and if she will outline a timeframe for implementation of same. [36651/13]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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658. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has considered introducing a training fund to encourage workers in early childhood settings to upskill. [36659/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 651 and 658 together.

The commitment to improve the quality of early childhood care and education has been a key priority for me since becoming Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

This is why my Department and I have been progressing work on Ireland's first-ever Early Years Strategy and this why we have been working on a comprehensive Pre-School Quality Agenda.

I have outlined to the Dail on several occasions, and to the Joint Oireachtas Committee, eight key areas of action which I believe need to be considered and addressed as a matter of urgency. The areas I have identified are:

- Increasing the qualification requirements for all staff in pre-school services to a minimum standard at FETAC Level 5

- Improving the quality and curricular supports for pre-school services when implementing the Siolta Framework and Aistear Curriculum

- Implementing the new National Pre-School Standards

- Introducing a registration system for all pre-school services

- Taking steps to make the inspection system more consistent and more robust

- Publishing inspection reports on-line as soon as possible

- Ensuring appropriate action is taken in response to findings of non-compliance

- Increasing and widening the sanctions which can be taken for non-compliance

It is my intention to introduce new qualification requirements for the sector starting in September 2014. This will be an important new development as, at present, staff working in childcare services other than under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, are not subject to any requirement in respect of qualifications.

The ECCE programme introduced the first-ever requirement for minimum qualifications for staff working in the childcare sector. The current requirement under the programme is that the pre-school leader delivering the pre-school provision must hold a qualification in childcare/early education at a minimum of Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (NFQ), or an equivalent nationally-recognised qualification or a higher award in the childcare/early education field.

The minimum requirement of Level 5 for pre-school leaders delivering the pre-school year will be increased to Level 6. In addition, all pre-school assistants, and all other staff caring for children in a pre-school service, will be subject to a minimum requirement of Level 5. This requirement will be effective from September 2014 for new services, and from September 2015 for existing services.

While I recognise the valuable experience which many childcare staff may have accrued, it is now essential that all staff have qualifications on a formal recognised basis. My Department is currently examining measures to support training for childcare staff in line with the increased qualification requirements.

Pre-school services are governed by the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006 as provided in the Child Care Act 1991. Under the Regulations the Health Service Executive has responsibility for the inspection of services and the enforcement of the regulations. Inspection is carried out to monitor compliance with the Regulations thereby ensuring the health, safety and welfare of children and the promotion of their development.

As I have outlined in recent weeks, a number of steps are being taken to improve the current inspection system. These include the introduction of National Quality Standards for pre-school services later this year as part of the inspection process. In addition, my Department is working with the Pre-School Inspectorate to develop new protocols on regulatory compliance so that there is greater clarity and consistency of approach as to how inspection reports deal with findings of serious non-compliance as opposed to minor breaches and full compliance. My Department is also undertaking a review of the penalties currently in place for breach of the Child Care (Pre-school) Regulations, as provided for under the Child Care Act 1991. The review will look at increasing the range and severity of the existing penalties including the actions which can be taken by Inspectors without recourse to court prosecution.

In relation to the publication of pre-school service inspection reports, the HSE has begun the process of publishing retrospective reports on-line, and this process will continue over the coming weeks and months. All new inspection reports from 1st July will be published on-line on completion. The publication of these reports is being hosted by Pobal, and the reports are available on the Pobal website.

A new registration system will be introduced in September of this year and new services wishing to open will be required to register with the HSE. The HSE will determine whether the childcare service is compliant in terms of suitability and service design before the service will be permitted to operate. Following commencement of the service, actual care and welfare practices will be inspected.

My Department is currently developing a new Children and Young People's Policy Framework which will set out high level goals for both my own and other Departments for the next five years. The Policy Framework is expected to be published later this year and will build on Our Children - Their Lives, Ireland's first Children's Strategy which was published in 2000. This is relevant to the Early Years Strategy as the Strategy is one of three, more detailed strategies which will be developed under the Framework.

The Early Years Strategy, which will be Ireland's first ever national strategy for early years, is under development. It is expected that it will cover a range of issues affecting children in their first years of life such as child health and well-being, parenting and family support, learning and development, play and recreation and early childhood care and education.