The draft legislation forms part of major reform to the country's pre-school services, sparked by a television exposé, which revealed below-standard care and mistreatment of children at some of the country’s nurseries.
The proposed Pre-School Quality Agenda, brought forward by the children’s minister Frances Fitzgerald, covers registration, regulation and enforcement of early years settings.
Under the new measures, all nurseries and crèches will be required to register with the HSE, the body responsible for providing health and social care in Ireland and currently inspecting services.
At present, providers only need to notify the inspectorate of their intention to open a setting.
Inspectors will also be granted new enforcement powers, allowing them to threaten the removal of registration.
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