Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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1241. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans for the children and parents directly affected by and featured in the recent RTE documentary on crèches, in view of the fact that many concerned parents have now taken their children out of the such child care facilities due to a lack of trust in the system; the mechanism she has put in place for children who are in crèches between now and 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37025/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Since the broadcast of the Prime Time programme in May this year, I have outlined to the Dáil on several occasions, and to the Joint Oireachtas Committee, my responses to the distressing events highlighted in this programme. I have identified eight key areas of action which I believe need to be considered and addressed as a matter of urgency. These 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

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

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

There is considerable international evidence that increasing the qualifications of staff working with children increases the quality of services. It is my intention, therefore, to introduce new qualification requirements for the sector starting this year. 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 this year for new services, and from September 2015 for existing services. My Department is currently examining measures to support training for childcare staff in line with the increased qualification requirements.

Under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006 as provided in the Child Care Act 1991, 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.

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.

The registration system for new services is in place from 1 September on an administrative basis and new services wishing to open are 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. A more comprehensive form of registration will be included in legislation which is expected to go through the Oireachtas during the autumn, and to be introduced from 1 January.

I have met with a number of parents affected by the programme and listened to their particular concerns and explained my plans for improvement to them. More generally, while I understand and sympathise with the concerns of parents, I would take this opportunity to reassure them that the majority of children in Ireland have very positive experiences in creches, and that the footage shown in the Prime Time programme was, I understand, atypical, in that it was culled from a very significant amount of filming most of which was not of concern.