Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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137. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his attention has been drawn to plans to close the crèche in Tallaght hospital; the way this will affect parents and children who avail of the crèche facility; and if he has seen or will publish the report commissioned by the hospital management. [23445/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Almost all the pre-school services in this country are provided by commercial or community providers. A small number are provided in workplace locations. All of these services are developed in response to local or employment needs and the ongoing viability of such enterprises is a matter for the service providers. My Department has no responsibility in relation to the sustainability of the creche at Tallaght hospital or any other individual childcare service.

The recent 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 will also be published. It is not intended to impose any additional costs on services as a result of the new regulations, other than an increase in the annual fee payable by services to the Early Years Inspectorate. In the case of the service in question, the increase in the fee payable is expected to be in the region of €80 per annum.

My Department has introduced measures to support training for childcare staff to enable them to upskill to meet the increased qualification requirements and €3 million is being made available over the next two years for this initiative. A key element of the Pre-School Quality Agenda is to strengthen the pre-school inspection system nationally. My Department is working with the Early Years Inspectorate to develop new protocols on regulatory compliance so that there is greater clarity and consistency of approach. I am confident that these reforms will provide for a more consistent and robust pre-school inspection regime.