Fine Gael, Labour call for childcare transparency

CALLS grew yesterday for crèche inspection reports to be made available to parents as the Labour Party blamed Government funding for the lack of compliance with crèche regulations.

It emerged that Health Service Executive (HSE) inspections had shown that more than 85% of childcare facilities in the HSE Western Area were in breach of regulations.

Breaches included inadequate sanitary facilities, fire procedures, no outdoor play areas and toxic materials being left within reach of children.

The information, released under the Freedom of Information Act, covered annual inspections of services for 10 or more children in counties Galway, Roscommon and Mayo up to the end of September 2005.

Last night, the Department of Health and Children said the lack of compliance in the west highlighted the importance of a regulatory system.

Despite widespread shock at the lack of compliance, a spokesman said: “It is very positive that 160 services in the Western Area have been inspected during the course of a one-year period and that existing deficiencies, be they minor or more significant, have been identified.”

The National Children’s Nurseries Association (NCNA) and Fine Gael called for the “veil of secrecy” to be lifted around inspection reports so parents can see the reports for their child.

Labour childcare spokeswoman Kathleen O’Meara said facilities are not being given enough State funding to ensure the highest standards are met.

She said Ireland is bottom of the OECD league in childcare spending.

“The running costs of pre-schools are extremely high and while the Government has spent on capital programmes, there is still a significant difficulty around crèches being able to meet day-to-day costs,” Ms O’Meara said.

The NCNA said many of the 1996 regulations related to the physical conditions of facilities and some operators who did not have grants were unable to provide facilities such as outdoor play areas.

NCNA spokeswoman Martina Murphy said the reporting system should be standardised to ensure all inspectors took areas such as child development activities into account.

Fine Gael childcare spokesman David Stanton backed calls for inspection reports to be made available, saying “the veil of secrecy” did not inspire confidence.

“This kind of inspection is not something Fianna Fáil is supportive of, but we must put our children at the centre of all policy,” Mr Stanton said.

A HSE spokeswoman said their officers recommend to crèche owners that they display inspection reports.

She added many of the HSE Western Area breaches were “relatively minor”.

“Some services will need to agree a plan of action with the HSE to address serious issues,” she said.

“Where standards consistently do not meet the required standard, the HSE’s pre-school officers have recourse to court proceedings, which can result in a fine being issued or an order that the service cease operation.”