Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Registration of Early Learning and Care settings is granted where Tusla is satisfied that the premises, operation and location of the setting poses no unmanaged risk to children. All registration applications are subject to services being compliant with fire and planning requirements.

Fire safety legislation and its compliance comes under the remit of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate liaises with Local Authority fire services where appropriate.

In 2019 I allocated €330,000 of capital funding to aid community/not for profit early learning and care services to address fire safety issues that were highlighted in inspection reports. I am currently planning the capital offering for 2020, and I will look carefully at this area again, taking account of the likely demand for fire and other safety measures.

In recent years, capital funding has been made available for the maintenance and improvement of community/not for profit services. This funding is made available in order to protect previous State investment where it exists. Funding has also assisted not-for-profit services which may lack the financial capacity to invest funding into maintenance or improvement works.

The capital scheme for 2020 is under development.