Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 22 Feb 1994

Vol. 439 No. 2

Written Answers. - Child Care Facilities for Working Parents.

Mary Harney

Question:

32 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the progress the working party on child care services for working parents has made; the recommendations, if any, it has made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Equality and Law Reform (Mr. Taylor)

I have just received the report of the Working Group on Child Care Facilities for Working Parents. I am arranging for its publication in due course.

The working group considered various models for the provision of child care facilities to suit Irish conditions. It examined the role of EU Structural Funds in relation to such provision and the possibilities of providing such services on a partnership basis between employers, parents and community groups.

I welcome the report of the working group and wish to express my appreciation to the members of the group for their work. The recommendations are broad-ranging and will warrant in-depth consideration in a number of Government Departments and indeed by employer, worker, community and other interests. I propose to consult with my Government colleagues regarding the action now needed to ensure an improvement in the general availability of child care facilities in keeping with the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government. The working group's recommendations together with the commitments on child care in the Programme for Competitiveness and Work and the Government's provision this year of £1 million to my Department for pilot child care projects for disadvantaged areas represent important contributions to progressing action on this important issue.