Vol. 440 No. 5
9 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the main recommendations of the report of the Working Party on Childcare Services for Working Parents published on 15 March 1994; the Government's response to the report; if the Government accepts the recommendations; if any timetable has been set for the implementation of these recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
13 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has in response to the report of the working party on child care services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
18 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has in response to the report of the working party on child care services; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
27 Mr. Cox asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the outcome of the discussions, if any, he has had on the report on child care facilities for working parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
42 Mr. Cullen asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the outcome of the discussions, if any, he has had on the report on child care facilities for working parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
85 Ms F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform if the working group on child care which presented its report to him examined the potential for job creation in this area; when he intends to publish this report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
86 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the cost to the State if all the recommendations in the report on child care services commissioned by the Government were implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
87 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the priority, if any, which will be given to any of the recommendations on child care services; the time schedule which has been agreed for implementation of the recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 13, 18, 27, 42, 85, 86 and 87 together.
The report of the Working Group on Childcare for Working Parents was published on 15 March. On 9 March, 1994 I presented the report for the information of Government highlighting the recommendations and the plans for consultation.
A list of the working group's recommendations have been circulated to Deputies. The working group made a number of recommendations which will involve some response by Government Departments and public service bodies. Some recommendations are directed at private sector, community and parent interest groups.
My Department has begun its contacts with other Departments as a part of the follow up consultative process to establish a Government response to the report's recommendations. In view of their implications across a large number of Departments and public bodies, detailed consideration of the recommendations will be necessary and it is not possible at this stage to indicate the nature, cost or timescale of a Government response. It must be remembered that the working group address non-Government groups including employers, trade unions, community and parent interests. Effective progress on many recommendations will require a partnership effort on the part of all interest groups and the relevant public authorities.
While the report of the Working Group on Childcare for Working Parents refers to the potential for job creation in the area of child care, no indepth analysis of this subject was available. However I expect future child care developments can lead to worthwhile job creation opportunities.
Will the Minister agree that the question of child care is a joke? We have received a document which has taken four years to publish and repeats many of the recommendations of a report published 11 years ago. We are now told that the consultation process is about to begin. Will the Minister also agree that child care, like charity, begins at home, that the Government should retrieve some of its tattered credibility in the area of child care and give a commitment to provide a child care facility in Leinster House to provide for more than 600 people employed here, many of whom are parents? Will he agree that the position is a disgrace, that a child care facility would not cost the taxpayer money and would make the statement that children are welcome within the portals of this great building? Will he accept he has a responsibility as Minister for Equality and Law Reform to ensure that parents are not discriminated against, particularly in the centre of Government, where the needs of children are not considered? If the fiasco of providing facilities for children continues it will be a joke and will discredit the Chamber.
I am sure the Ceann Comhairle has listened carefully to the comments regarding the provision of child care facilities here.
The Ceann Comhairle knows all about it.
I support the provision for such a facility and I am sure it will be considered by the Ceann Comhairle. I am serious about the provision of child care facilities and secured £1 million to set up a number of child care projects around the country in consultation with local partnership group interests. That is an indication I am serious about the issue. Under the National Development Plan provision has been made in training and work programmes for the provision of child care facilities. I am hopeful they will provide opportunities for women to participate in many of those programmes. I agree the report of the working group has taken a long time to produce, it was in gestation when I took office. I made every effort to secure its production and it has now been circulated to Deputies. Child care provision will not be solved by simply pressing a button, the co-operation and involvement of the Government, private sector, trade unions and employer organisations, IBEC and other organisations, is necessary. I will undertake necessary consultations with other Government Departments, the trade union movement, IBEC and partnership and enterprise groups to ensure that the maximum possible provision for child care is secured in accordance with the various recommendations of the report received in the past few days.
The report may have been received in the past few days but we have heard of its gestation period of many years. Will the Minister give a commitment on a timescale to respond to the recommendations? It is frustrating for Members of the Opposition to be continuously fobbed off by being told matters are in train and under discussion. One of the recommendations of the report if to encourage the county enterprise boards to provide grant support towards start-up costs of nursery and family day care networks. In the light of vibes I received from some county enterprise boards we will be waiting for a long time for such work to be recognised as proper work. That view underlines the attitude towards work which women in the main perform in our society.
There are various aspects to the provision of child care facilities including the public sector aspect, the extent to which the public sector should become actively involved, the role of the private sector, the provision of child care facilities on a joint partnership basis between industry and local groups with Government involvement and what the incentives should be. There are a number of issues to be determined. I am not prepared to give a commitment date on matters for which I do not have personal control. The report has just come to hand and it makes interesting reading in the context of 1994.
It is not a novel.
I have begun work on the recommendations of the report in respect of my Department in a practical way by securing £1 million from the Government to set up facilities. That is an appreciable sum and it will be a practical start from the Government's viewpoint to set up practical facilities. The private sector must be involved and consideration must be given to how other Government agencies, local authority agencies, enterprise centres and partnership groups can be involved. We will consult them to ensure that the role envisaged for them in the child care area will be provide. From the point of view of inducement the National Development Plan provides for this. A child care element is written into the plan and the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. Those issues will be monitored and the progress of those agencies in that area will be noted.
The Minister used the word "practical" three times in his last response.
I am a practical person.
When the working party was set up it was asked to recommend early practical action and it took four years to do so. I hope his practical action takes less time.
The Deputy can be assured it will.
I agree with Deputy McManus about the necessity for action in that area in respect of the House. The report states there are only two work place nurseries in private companies in the State, namely, in Baggot Street and Buncrana. That is a disgrace and we should give a lead in that area by providing child care facilities in the House.
