Vol. 423 No. 2
14 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Labour if he has satisfied himself that child care facilities for working parents and those interested in training opportunities are sufficiently available; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As indicated in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress the provision of child care services for working parents is recognised as a factor influencing the achievement of real equality in the labour market. The role of the Government in this regard is to stimulate the development of child care services by employers, individually and collectively, including the promotion of child care partnerships between public authorities and employers. This not only calls for a co-ordinated response on the part of the different Government Departments involved, but will also necessitate collaboration with employer and community interests.
This approach is in line with the EC Council Child Care Recommendation which enjoins member states to encourage a combination of interests, including the public authorities, the social partners and voluntary bodies, to co-operate in the interest of developing and making widely available good quality, accessible, and affordable child care arrangements.
The Government has indicated, in response to the recent NESC Report on Women's Participation in the Labour Market, that they will develop specific policies and mechanisms to improve child care for working parents. In developing such a policy, the Government will take into account the report of the Working Party on Child Care for Working Parents which was set up to devise specific recommendations for the development of child care partnerships between parents, local employers and community groups. The working party has taken longer than expected to complete its report. I understand, however, that it has sought to identify a pragmatic way forward for the development of child care initiatives involving a combination of private and public financing. This approach would be in line with the policy measures outlined in the EC Council Recommendation on Child Care. The working party has already provided an input to the deliberations of the Second Commission on the Status of Women and the Task Force on Employment. I look forward to receiving its final report by the end of this month. The report of the Second Commission on the Status of Women is also expected to make recommendations in relation to the development of child care in Ireland.
The Programme for Economic and Social Progress also provides for the introduction of child care facilities on a progressive basis in the public service with the State providing the physical facilities and the staff paying the running costs. The recent establishment of a Civil Service creche is a further positive development. I am glad, too, that a number of public sector bodies provide child care facilities for their staff and that more organisations are planning to take initiatives in this area.
With regard to the provision of child care facilities for parents interested in training, the setting up of child care facilities in the vicinity of FÁS training centres, and the possibility of providing such facilities in partnership with local industry and local community interests, is being pursued on a pilot basis under the NOW Programme.
May I ask the Minister to indicate the sort of priority this issue will receive within his Department? Does he agree that one could be forgiven for thinking this issue was on the long finger — I understand the report of the working party was promised as long ago as three years? When will he be in a position to come before the House with proposals, outlining specific funding, on how child-care facilities can be developed predominantly for working wives and working spouses in general?
I take the Deputy's point regarding the formulation of the report. I understand it will be with me by the end of the month. Perhaps Deputies will give me an opportunity to look at its recommendations and see on what basis we can go forward from there.
