Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Sep 1995

Vol. 456 No. 2

Written Answers. - Child Care Act, 1991.

Tony Gregory

Question:

47 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health his views on whether each health board is capable of adequately meeting its obligations under existing child care legislation, particularly under the Boarding Out Regulations and sections 3 and 5 of the Child Care Act, 1991. [13659/95]

Tony Gregory

Question:

48 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, he has taken to prepare for the sections of the Child Care Act, 1991, which he proposes to implement on 1 October 1995; the training that has been provided for professional and administrative staff in each health board area; the training that has been provided for the Garda, the Judiciary and officers of the court; the steps, if any, taken to ensure that each health board will be able to meet its obligations to provide sufficient appropriate accommodation under sections 15, 36 and 38 (1) of the Child Care Act, 1991; and the steps, if any, taken to ensure that adequate staff and resources are available to meet the new demands on services as a result of the introduction of supervision orders under sections 19 and 20. [13660/95]

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Mr. Currie)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together. At the outset, I want to reiterate that the Government is firmly committed to the full implementation of the Child Care Act at the earliest possible date and it is my top priority in the Department of Health to ensure that this is achieved. Earlier today the Minister for Health, Deputy Noonan (Limerick East) and I met the Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of the eight health boards. They have assured us of their full support and co-operation for our efforts in this regard.

As the House is aware, 17 of the 79 sections of the Act are currently in force. It is my intention to make the necessary order within the next few days to bring a further 44 sections into operation. These include key sections dealing with the protection of children in emergencies, care proceedings and the powers and duties of health boards in relation to children in their care. These provisions will greatly strengthen the powers of the courts, the health boards and the Garda to intervene to protect children from abuse and neglect.

I am also about to make new regulations in relation to the placement of children in foster care and residential care and the placement of children with relatives. The three sets of regulations will provide the health boards with a range of options in looking after children in their care. They will also require the boards to visit, supervise and review children in their care on a more systematic basis than before.

The decision to proceed with the implementation of these provisions at this time must be viewed against the background of the sustained programme of investment in child care services that has taken place over the last three years. Since 1993, additional funding of the order of £30 million on an annualised basis has been provided to develop child care and family support services and to strengthen the capacity of the health boards to meet the demands of the new legislation.

The Child Care Action Plan, 1995 which I launched last July provided for a wide range of service developments including the creation of some 342 additional posts for the child care services; the expansion of assessment and therapeutic services for the victims of child abuse; the provision of additional accommodation and supports for homeless youngsters; the establishment of new special care units catering for children who are out of control; the development of locally based helping services to assist families in difficulty and increased financial support for voluntary groups providing services for victims of family violence.

The 342 extra posts that have been approved bring to over 850 the total number of new posts created in the child care services since 1993. The scale of this approval at a time when there are restrictions on public sector recruitment generally demonstrates the commitment of the Government to child welfare, and our determination to ensure that child protection services are equipped to respond to the needs of vulnerable children.

Having regard to the massive increase in staff and resources that have been provided for child care over the last three years, I believe that health boards are in a position to adequately discharge their responsibilities both under current legislation and under the new provisions mentioned by the Deputy. That is not to say that I am entirely happy with all aspects of our current services; there is still much room for improvement and, with the support of the Minister for Health, I will be seeking additional resources for child care in the Estimates for 1996.

With regard to the question of training, this is, of course, primarily a matter for the health boards and I am aware that various initiatives have been taken by the boards to prepare staff for the new legislation. In order to ensure that health board staff are fullyau fait with the new regulations that are about to be made, I intend that the regulations which I will be signing on 1 October will take effect on 31 October. This will provide additional time for staff in health boards together with the Garda and the courts to familiarise themselves with the new provisions and to make any necessary changes in their practices and procedures. The Department of Health will also be circulating explanatory guides to health boards and has made arrangements with the Department of Justice for the provision of briefing material for the Garda Authorities and relevant court staff.

Finally, I want to say that I am conscious of the fact that much work remains to be done to attain the standard and quality of child care services that we all desire. I believe that the developments over the last three years have provided us with a good base from which to develop and meet the challenges that lie ahead in this vitally important area.