Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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13. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the proposals she is bringing forward to improve the quality of child care services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38689/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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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 for children aged from birth to six years. In addition, my Department has been actively driving a comprehensivePre-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. 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 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.

Starting in September 2014, it is my intention to introduce new qualification requirements for the sector. The qualification requirement for Pre-School Leaders will be increased to Level 6 requirement in childcare/early education. In addition, all other staff caring for children in a pre-school service, will be made subject to a minimum requirement of Level 5. These requirements will apply to new services from September 2014 and to existing services from September 2015. 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. Inspections are carried out under the regulations by the Pre-School Inspectorate, to monitor compliance and ensure 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, including 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 has also reviewed the penalties currently in place for breach of regulations with a view to increasing their range and severity. I will be bringing draft legislative amendments in relation to this to Government very shortly and I expect these to be brought before the Houses during the current session. Since July of this year, existing inspection reports are being published on-line by the Pre-School Inspectorate and all new inspection reports will also be published on-line on their completion.

A registration system has been introduced on an administrative basis for new pre-school services and is expected to be placed on a statutory basis in 2014. This allows the Pre-School Inspectorate to determine whether a service is compliant in terms of suitability and service design before it will be permitted to operate. This is a further welcome development in the wider programme of work to secure and support the quality of pre school services.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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14. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will take to address the availability and affordability of regulated childcare services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38839/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government commits to developing early childhood care and education as resources allow, and the Government has made a very significant commitment to maintaining the childcare support programmes implemented by my Department - the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme and the new After-school Childcare programme which is being fully rolled out from this month.

It is recognised that intensive and targeted early childhood services have the potential to significantly enhance the life chances of many children. There is significant international evidence of the benefits for children's outcomes of the provision of quality education and childcare in the earliest years. Investment in early childhood care and education benefits not only the individual child but also the future development of the wider economy. I am also aware of the important economic contribution that childcare services provide through direct employment of staff in service delivery and through support for labour participation on the part of working parents.

The CCS programme provides funding to community-based childcare services to enable them to provide childcare at reduced rates to parents in receipt of social welfare payments or on low or relatively modest incomes. For the purpose of the CCS programme, disadvantage and qualifying income are determined by reference to a range of means-tested allowances and payments including receipt of a social welfare payment, Family Income Supplement (FIS) and qualification for a medical or GP visit card. Eligibility for a GP visit card is based on net income and takes account of outgoings such as rent and mortgage repayments and other expenses including childcare costs and travelling expenses. As a result, parents with middle incomes may also benefit from subvention.

The CETSprogramme provides €145 towards the weekly cost of full time childcare places to participating childcare services in both the community and commercial sectors for qualifying trainees and students. Students on part-time courses are funded on a pro rata basis.

The ECCE programme provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. Children qualify for the free pre-school year where they are aged more than 3 years 2 months and less than 4 years 7 months at 1 September in the relevant year.

In the Budget for 2013, I announced, along with my colleague the Minister for Social Protection, an After-school Childcare Programme with provision of €14 million in a full year. This programme will provide important support to parents in low income families wishing to take up employment, along with ensuring that some 6,000 quality after-school care places are provided to support children's development when the initiative is fully completed.

In 2013 the total expenditure by my Department on the childcare support programmes is expected to be in the region of €260 million. I believe that the investment made in childcare supports is an investment in our country's future prosperity. I have, despite the ongoing need to reduce Government expenditure, provided sufficient funding to ensure that the programmes are maintained, and I am pleased to inform the Deputy that in excess of 100,000 children throughout the country are being supported by the programmes administered by my Department this year.