asked the Minister for Health when the final report from the task force on child care services will be available; and the arrangements that are being made for the implementation of its recommendations.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Child Care Services.
7.
I have been informed that the final report of the task force on child care services will be submitted before the end of this year. In accordance with normal procedures, the Government will then take decisions on the recommendations made in the report.
The interim report is already available to the Minister. Would the Minister consider introducing some aspects of it, especially where day centres are concerned?
Yes. I am considering the implementation of part of the interim report. Three of the recommendations have already been implemented, that is the council for the education and training of social services personnel and, as recommended in the report, two new special residential units for children under five years who have been deserted or are awaiting adoption or who have been taken into care by the Eastern Health Board, were provided in Madonna House, Blackrock, in 1976. Two or three additional units for 20 to 25 similar children will be provided in 1977. New residential facilities for 16 homeless travelling children aged between eight and 16 years were provided in Newtownmountkennedy in 1976. Additional accommodation may be provided there in 1977. As far as other parts of the report are concerned I believe I will be able to make a decision and a pronouncement on them in a matter of a week or two.
Could the Minister assure me that the residential homes already available will be financed adequately to ensure that none of these homes will have to close?
That is a different question about which I am very concerned.
Question No. 8.
Is the Minister fully aware that this is really a part of the task force report—the importance of residential homes?
I am very conscious of it.
Question No. 8. Deputy Moore.