asked the Minister for Health when the task force on child care services intends to publish its final report.
Written Answers. - Child Care Services.
69.
It is not possible, at this stage, to say when the task force on child care services will submit its final report.
70.
asked the Minister for Health the date on which the task force on child care services was established; the date on which it issued an interim report; the number of the recommendations implemented since the publication of the interim report; and if he will make a statement on the delay in implementing the most urgent recommendations.
The task force on child care services was set up in October, 1974. It submitted its interim report to me in September, 1975, and this was published on 18th November, 1975.
I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate that the full implementation of the majority of the significant recommendations made in the report is not possible in the short term. Even if all the necessary resources of finance and trained personnel were available, it would still take a considerable time to fully implement the recommendations. However, the position is further aggravated by the financial constraints arising out of the present economic situation.
Notwithstanding this, however, my Department are pressing ahead with the formulation of an implementation programme on the basis of views which have been obtained from the Minister for Education and the Eastern Health Board. In addition to this, some progress has been made in relation to the implementation of recommendations 2.0.12 and 2.0.13 through the provision of accommodation at Newtownmountkennedy for 17 travelling children in need of residential care. The Eastern Health Board had been asked to urgently examine the feasibility of adapting an existing premises for use as a residential centre for severely disturbed boys and girls, recommendations 2.0.6 and 2.0.9 of the interim report. An early meeting is being arranged with the agencies concerned to assess in detail the need for additional accommodation for homeless boys; the extent to which existing accommodation can best be used to resolve the problem; and the provision of such additional accommodation as may be required.
I wish to assure the Deputy that I am most anxious that all possible steps should be taken to improve the services through the implementation of the recommendations made in the interim report and, having regard to the complexity of the issues involved and the constraints on availability of resources, I do not think that there has been any undue delay in acting on the report.