Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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130. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to review the existing child care regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20947/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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The enactment through the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 of amendments to the Child Care Act 1991 underpins a number of key reforms being introduced as part of the Pre-School Quality Agenda. The amended legislation strengthens the current inspection regime, provides a statutory basis for the registration of early years services, and also provides for the setting of minimum qualification standards for staff working with children in early years services.

To provide for the implementation of the changes to the Act it will be necessary to amend or make additions to the current Regulations in a number of areas, and these are currently being finalised. New National Quality Standards for Early Years Services, which will set out the outcomes and supporting criteria against which the quality of childcare services will be measured, will replace the existing explanatory guidelines in 2014.