Frances Fitzgerald
Question:105 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, in the Eastern Health Board area for new childcare services.
Written Answers. - Childcare Services.
Frances Fitzgerald
Question:106 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Health the allocation made from his Department to the Eastern Health Board for childcare out of the extra money promised for childcare in 1993.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 106 together.
I have approved developments in the Eastern Health Board area at an estimated cost of £2,365 million in a full year. The funding for these developments is being provided from the £5 million set aside for the child care area following the publication of the report of the Kilkenny Incest Investigation.
Among the main developments that I have approved in the Eastern Health Board are the following: 20 additional social work posts; a child psychiatric team for the Kildare catchment area; ten child care workers to work with families in the community; extension of the homemaker service and community mothers programme; increased funding for a range of family support services and additional hostel places for the young homeless.
A number of these initiatives is already in place. I have been assured by the board that every effort is being made to bring the remaining services on stream at the earliest possible date.
Officals of the Child Care Policy Unit of my Department have had preliminary discussions with officers of the Eastern Health Board and other health boards concerning their plans for further developments in the child care area in 1994.