Vol. 451 No. 8
24 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the specific steps, if any, he has taken to develop child care infrastructures in co-operation with local development structures and partnerships; the result of this action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7555/95]
As I indicated in my reply of 7 March 1995 to a previous question, the remit of my Department with regard to child care stems fundamentally from the function of child care as a support to parents to enable them to participate on an equal footing in employment and other economic, political or social spheres. These measures complement the role of the Department of Health as regards protection and health of children and the Department of Education as regards their educational development and the role of the Department of Enterprise and Employment in regard to child care for FÁS trainees.
An allocation was included in my Department's Estimate for 1994 to assist the initiation of projects for the establishment, on a pilot basis, of child care measures, utilising the skills of trained local people, to enable local residents to undertake education, training, re-training and employment opportunities which they would otherwise be unable to do, in the absence of a childcare facility.
Eligibility for consideration for grant assistance is confined to disadvantaged areas, as designated in the Local Development Programme, and involves partnerships between community groups and local employers.
The pilot child care initiative is being administered, on behalf of my Department, by Area Development Management — ADM — Limited, which is an independent company designated by the Government and the European Commission to support integrated local economic and social development in cooperation with relevant area partnership companies established by the Government in designated disadvantaged areas.
I understand that by the end of this month a sum of £250,000 approximately, will have been paid in grants towards the cost of approved projects. Additional instalments will be paid in line with progress achieved in the projects. There is a provision of £1 million in my Department's Estimate for 1995.
28 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the plans, if any, he has to provide for race relations legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5298/95]
35 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform whether his attention has been drawn to concerns at the lack of physical access to third level education premises for disabled students; the proposals, if any, he has to address the matter in the forthcoming equal status legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7614/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 35 together.
If the question is intended to refer to the criminal law aspects of race relations I should like to point out that the law already provides, by way of the Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act, 1989, that words, written material or behaviour which are intended or are likely to stir up hatred against any group of persons on account of their race, colour, nationality, religion, ethnic or national origins, membership of the travelling community or sexual orientation, constitutes an offence punishable by fine or imprisonment or both.
