Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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86. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views that one year on from the "Prime Time" investigation into crèches, a new registration process has still not been enacted, new child care services continue to use the old notification model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28008/14]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Significant progress has been made in implementing the National Early Years Quality Agenda, which involves a range of actions in key areas aimed at improving quality within early years services and enhancing the regulatory regime. Additional funding of €4.5 million has been allocated in 2014 for this work. The Quality Agenda provides an overdue recognition of the importance of promoting quality in early years settings in contrast to earlier decades where the predominant focus has been on the number of places and facilities available.

A number of amendments were made to the Child Care Act 1991 in the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 which completed its passage through the House at the end of last year. Regulations to give effect to the legislative changes are expected to be published later this month. At that point, a new registration system which will require childcare services to register with the Early Years Inspectorate in advance of opening, rather than simply notifying the Inspectorate of their existence, will be placed on a statutory basis. This will require the Inspectorate to commence the assessment of the quality of a service before it opens. Inspectors will also be able to impose conditions on services which, if not complied with, can result in de-registration. In the meantime, services are being registered on an administrative basis, and all new services receive a pre-registration visit from the Early Years Inspectorate.

The drafting of the regulations required a review of the draft National Standards and of the 2006 Regulations and the associated guidance document as well as input from Tusla, who have to implement new systems for implementing the new regulations. Legal advice has informed the approach taken and I expect all matters to be finalised so as to allow for the making of regulations this month.

Under the legislation, existing notified providers are deemed registered for a period of three years with a requirement to reapply for registration within three years.

While very significant progress has been made, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs will continue to build on the actions to date to continually improve quality in early years services. The Department will continue to progress the quality agenda, as well as continuing to support childcare provision through the current and targeted capital funding.

Some €3 million in additional funding is being made available over 2014 and 2015 through a Learner Fund to support existing staff to achieve the new mandatory qualification requirements. Over 2,200 staff have applied to have their training supported from this Fund and I welcome the strong commitment which this demonstrates on the part of staff and the wider sector to the Quality Agenda. A new National Early Years Quality Support Service, employing 30 graduates in early childhood care and education, will commence providing mentoring support to services in October this year. The promotion of higher and more consistent quality across all early years services will require sustained effort involving many different activities and actions.

However, I welcome the widespread engagement withe National Early Years Quality Agenda which is evident from the range of initiatives being directed by my Department.