Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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166. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to a situation that has arisen with regard to Garda vetting of staff in early education and child care training programmes such that training organisations that process all Garda vetting forms for students have been informed by the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner that they cannot, under data protection legislation, share the information with a third party placement facility, and that this requirement is jeopardising work placements in the child care sector; if she is concerned by this; if she has intervened with the Department of Justice and Equality on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5892/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006 require that a person carrying on a pre-school service shall ensure appropriate vetting of all staff, students and volunteers who have access to a child.

I am aware that a problem exists in relation to the sharing of student vetting information by training colleges with a third party. In situations where training colleges process Garda vetting for their students and subsequently secure placement of these students in childcare settings, they are not permitted under current Data Protection regulations to release the vetting documents or copies to the childcare service. Because of the requirements of the Pre-School Regulations service providers cannot accept students on placement unless the full Garda vetting documentation is available to them.

There is currently a strong emphasis on improving the quality of childcare services and it is recognised that the level of training of pre-school staff impacts significantly on the quality of the services provided. Child protection practices must also remain at the top of the agenda in any circumstances and I am anxious therefore that the issue raised by the Deputy is resolved. Officials in my Department have recently written to the Data Protection Commissioner requesting an urgent meeting to discuss this and a range of issues which relate to the delivery of childcare services.