Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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801. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the recommended pupil teacher-ratio for early education and child care providers; the average pupil teacher ratio at present across early education and child care providers here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32545/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Childcare services are governed by the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006. The Explanatory Guide to the Regulations recommends a range of adult/child ratios that reflect the age of the child and the level of care the child is receiving. For sessional pre-school services (i.e. services offering a planned programme to pre-school children for a total of not more than 3.5 hours per day), the ratios are:

Sessional Pre-School Services

Following a reduction in the weekly capitation payment to pre-school services participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which provides a free pre-school year to children prior to commencing primary school, the 1:10 adult/child ratio was increased to a ratio of 1:11 for children qualifying for the pre-school support. This decision, which was made so that participating childcare services would have some flexibility in managing the modest capitation reduction, relates only to the pre-school element of the service and not to other children enrolled in the childcare service.

The Early Years Quality Agenda is currently being progressed by my Department and will introduce a series of reforms that provide for the further development of the childcare sector. Legislation to strengthen the current Early Years Inspection regime and to underpin the Quality Agenda has been enacted. Regulations to give effect to the legislative changes are expected to be published shortly. New National Standards for early years services will also be published shortly and will provide the basis against which services will be inspected and reported on. It is expected that these new Standards will confirm the existing ratios.