Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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25. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in relation to the recently announced review of early childhood education programmes and the announcement of ten new early years inspectors to the Department of Education and Skills, if this signifies a departmental shift in terms of responsibility for early childhood education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35731/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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At Government level responsibility for the early years sector is split between the Minister for Education and Skills and myself, and our two departments collaborate on developments, particularly in terms of building quality. There has been no change in these responsibilities, nor is any change planned. Recent announcements by Minister O'Sullivan have related to her areas of responsibility and are very welcome as they will support the Early Years Quality Agenda which is the focus of the work of the Departments. The first major review of education and training programmes that lead to qualifications in the early years care and education sector is a very timely development and will support the ongoing work to improve quality in early years through increasing the qualifications of staff. Courses in this area have developed in an ad hoc way as the sector has grown and are delivered in a range of institutions, and there is a need to review the programme quality, the curriculum content and issues such as practice requirements. It is important to ensure that we can be sure that individuals who take on a qualification are getting the most appropriate training in their own interests and in the interests of the children they will work with.

Reference has also been made to proposals to carry out education focussed inspections. The background to this is that during 2012 and 2013 inspectors from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and inspectors from the Department of Education and Skills carried out a pilot joint inspection. This was a very useful exercise. An issue identified was that there were weaknesses in relation to education and learning in a number of services that both Departments felt needed to be followed up. For that reason, the Department of Education and Skills has been looking at how best they might carry out such education-focused inspections in a way that would complement to the work of the Early Years Inspectorate of Tusla. There is as I understand it still some work to be done, but progress is being made, in consultation with my Department.

The two Departments will continue to work closely together to press forward with the Quality Agenda and improve services for the benefit of children.