Minister of Social Affairs replied to interpellation concerning health protection requirements in child care institutions
The Minister of Social Affairs Hanno Pevkur replied to the interpellation concerning compliance with health protection requirements in pre-school child care institutions (No 153), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Heljo Pikhof, Andres Anvelt, Jaak Allik, Neeme Suur and Helmen Kütt on 12 April.
According to Pevkur’s explanations, the premises of all child care institutions, both of those already operating and of new child care institutions starting operation, must comply with the requirements established by the Government Regulation of 6 October 2011. Under the implementing provisions of this Regulation, a child care institution built on the basis of building design documentation submitted for application for a building permit before the Regulation had entered into force, that is, before 14 October 2011, is deemed to have been built and be in conformity with the requirements also in the case when the child care institution was in conformity with the requirements for child care institutions as at the moment of preparation of the building design documentation. This is a compromise provision the content of which has been decided taking into account the actual possibilities and means.
Pevkur noted that, according to the Pre-School Child Care Institutions Act, on the proposal of the board of trustees, the number of children in a crèche group may be increased by up to two children that is, 14+2 children in a group, the number of children in a mixed group also by up to two children, that is 18+2, and the number of children in a nursery school group by up to four children (20+4). Under the Pre-School Child Care Institutions Act, the number of children in groups can be increased only in accordance with the Act, bearing in mind the rights of the child and only in a manner which promotes the development of the child, that is, when there is a need for it and the conditions necessary for the development of the child are ensured. From the aspect of health protection, neither child care institutions nor boards of trustees are in the position to assess the health risks and safe conditions connected with the development of the child without the relevant risk analysis, the Minister underlined. Pevkur added that the corresponding regulation has been established by the relevant Regulation of the Minister of Social Affairs “Health Protection Requirements for Health Promotion and Daily Programme in Child Care Institutions” which aims to establish healthy lifestyle in child care institutions, to maintain and strengthen the health of children, to reduce illnesses and to ensure for each child the conditions necessary for the development of the child according to his or her abilities. “This Regulation regulates with sufficient precision the bases of health promotion which the board of trustees and local government can take into account when deciding on the issue of the quota,” the Minister explained.
Pevkur replied to three more interpellations. They were the following:
the interpellation concerning the health of the young people of Estonia (No 157), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Yana Toom, Viktor Vassiljev, Peeter Võsa, Lauri Laasi, Vladimir Velman, Valeri Korb, Aadu Must, Priit Toobal and Enn Eesmaa on 17 April;
the interpellation concerning the financing of the assistant doctors system (No 160), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Viktor Vassiljev, Yana Toom, Aadu Must, Jüri Ratas, Eldar Efendijev, Enn Eesmaa, Peeter Võsa, Valeri Korb and Marika Tuus-Laul on 19 April;
the interpellation concerning the problems with the Health Information System (No 164), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Viktor Vassiljev, Olga Sõtnik, Enn Eesmaa, Peeter Võsa, Valeri Korb, Mailis Reps, Ester Tuiksoo and Yana Toom on 2 May.
The Minister of Internal Affairs Ken-Marti Vaher replied to the interpellation concerning the continuing increase of the number of violent deaths in the first months of 2012 (No 156), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Andres Anvelt, Kalev Kotkas, Helmen Kütt, Mart Meri, Marianne Mikko, Sven Mikser, Heljo Pikhof, Indrek Saar, Rannar Vassiljev, Jaan Õunapuu, Urve Palo, Jevgeni Ossinovski, Jaak Allik, Eiki Nestor, Kalvi Kõva, Kajar Lember and Rein Randver on 16 April.
During the open microphone, Inara Luigas took the floor.
The Riigikogu Press Service