asked the Taoiseach if any Government decision has as yet been taken concerning the various proposals that national child care services should be placed under the general auspices of a single Government Department.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Child Care Services.
1.
I would refer the Deputy to the replies given in this House to questions on this subject on the 31st May last by the Minister for Education and on the 5th July last by the Minister for Health.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say whether there is any hope that the Government might give more urgent consideration to this question and, if possible, accept the recommendation that has come from a large number of bodies concerning the giving to one Minister or, perhaps, a Parliamentary Secretary, the exclusive responsibility for the problems of child care in our community? At present there is a dispersal of responsibility among half a dozen Departments.
The Deputy is wrong. There are only three Departments involved. These are the Departments of Education, Health and Justice. In relation to the first part of the Deputy's question, I would like to point out that since 1970—I expect that the Deputy is referring to the Kennedy Report—much has been done regarding the question of child care. However, much remains to be done and I assure the Deputy that these matters are being given urgent and continuing consideration.
There is too much passing of the buck from one Department to another especially regarding the implementation of the Kennedy recommendations.
I would not agree at all.
There is no passing of the buck.