Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Feb 1996

Vol. 461 No. 2

Written Answers. - Child Care Act.

Kathleen Lynch

Question:

80 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Health the moneys allocated for implementation of the Child Care Act, 1991, following the Kilkenny Incest report; the proportion that was allocated to administration, buildings and fabric, recruitment and training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2743/96]

Chris Flood

Question:

85 Mr. Flood asked the Minister for Health the parts, if any, of the Child Care Act, 1991, he proposes to commence in 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2748/96]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 85 together.

Sixty-one of the 79 sections of the Child Care Act, 1991 have been brought into operation to date, including those core provisions which strengthen the powers of the health boards, the Garda and the courts to intervene on behalf of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection.

The remaining 18 sections of the Act are contained in Parts VII and VIII which deal respectively with the supervision of pre-school services and the registration of children's residential centres. New regulations are required to give full effect to these provisions. In accordance with the timescale set by the Government for the full implementation of the Act, it is my intention that Parts VII and VIII will be commenced by the end of this year. Since 1993, the year in which the Kilkenny Incest report was published, in the region of £30 million on an annualised basis has been invested in the development of new child care and family support services. The scale of this investment is unprecedented and is specifically designed to ensure that a proper infrastructure to support the Child Care Act is in place and that the health boards are equipped with the resources required to enable them to cope with the new demands imposed on them under the legislation. A range of new services and facilities have been put in place in each health board area and some 850 new posts have been approved for the child care services. Funding has also been made available to the boards for the training of front line staff who are involved in the operation of the new statutory provisions. I regret that the information is not available in the format requested by Deputy Lynch.

I should also mention that the Health Estimate for 1996 includes provision for a further round of new service developments in the child care area.