Vol. 471 No. 3
7 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the progress, if any, made with the report and recommendations of the Working Group on Child Care for working parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20576/96]
The working group on child care facilities for working parents which reported in February 1994 made 16 recommendations covering a wide range of issues in the child care area. Progress continues to be made in responding to the recommendations of this report which are targeted at a wide range of community, public service and private sector interests.
My colleague, the Minister for Health, will introduce before the end of the year regulations to give effect to Part VII of the Child Care Act, 1991, which provides for the supervision and inspection of pre-school services.
The Employment Equality Agency, which operates under the aegis of my Department, published a booklet earlier this year entitled Introducing Family Friendly Initiatives in the Workplace. This publication, in identifying a number of initiatives and options available to employers which facilitate equal opportunities in employment and promote family friendly policies, will assist the social partners in pursuing those recommendations relevant to them.
Support and assistance for the provision of local child care initiatives and increased child care places has been the aim of a scheme of funding in my Department to assist in the development of a number of pilot child care projects in disadvantaged areas. Grant aid under the scheme, which is being administered on behalf of my Department by Area Development Management (ADM) Limited, is available in respect of startup capital costs. To date, a total of £1,250,000 has been issued to 73 approved projects. An evaluation of the scheme is currently under way. A further £600,000 has been provided in my Department's Estimate this year for new projects under the initiative.
As a result of the National Development Plan, the Human Resources Operational Programme of the Community Support Framework has set aside a total of nearly £8 million to support equal opportunities measures, including child care initiatives, over the period of the programme. As part of this, FÁS in its contribution over the next few years has committed £1.5 million to child care training measures and will supplement this with support for child care facilities for its trainees. In addition, from 1997 to the end of the Operational Programme, the Department of Education will devote £900,000 each year to support child care provision for participants on the vocational opportunities scheme and Youthreach programme.
My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, has brought the question of the need for child care facilities to the attention of the relevant planning authorities as a point for consideration by them in the examination and granting of planning applications.
I welcome the Minister's response. Will the Minister agree to communicate with me in respect of each of the 16 recommendations and the progress being made on each to date? In relation to inspection and supervision of pre-school child care facilities will the Minister indicate the criteria laid down for such facilities? Most Members will agree that much money is being spent on the provision of child care. To send a child to any crèche facility for part or duration of a day the minimum expenditure would probably be in excess of £50 per week. For somebody working and earning £150, after tax, levies, PRSI etc., a £50 plus expenditure is relatively high. Will the Minister agree that such expenditure should be embroidered into the tax allowance system?
The question of what should or should not be embroidered into the tax regime is a matter for the Minister for Finance, budgetary considerations and so on.
The Minister for Finance said it is the Minister's responsibility. Will the Minister support——
Listen to the reply, please. A question has been put.
It is obvious that anything involving tax is a matter for the Minister for Finance, not for the Minister for Equality and Law Reform. The Minister for Health will introduce before the end of the year regulations to give effect to Part VII of the Child Care Act, 1991, which provides for the supervision and inspection of pre-school services. As far as the cost is concerned——
What about the criteria on which he will be working?
The Deputy will have to ask the Minister for Health, he is available for questions. There is no point in asking me on what criteria he will work. It is contained in the Child Care Act and the Deputy may question him about it. The cost of leaving a child in a crèche or in a child care facility varies. I am aware that at least some of the crèche facilities which were set up as a result of grant aid from my Department operate a scheme under which people or parents who cannot afford to pay what may be the standard rate are allowed to leave their children at the facility on a reduced fee basis or, in some cases, on a no fee basis. Some 73 projects have been approved under the scheme, many of which I have visited. They are working extremely well and provide an excellent facility in disadvantaged areas. If any Deputy is aware of a group which wishes to set up a facility in a disadvantaged area I urge him or her to communicate with my Department as we are anxious to assist in getting such a child care facility under way under the scheme.
Will the Minister agree that combating inequality in pre-school children's care and education is a priority area? Will he also agree that instead of running pilot projects under the aegis of the Department of Education a comprehensive approach should be taken so that the great majority of people in disadvantaged areas can have some access to pre-school play groups?
The pilot projects to which the Deputy referred are under the aegis of my Department, not the Department of Education.
I am talking about the inequality perspective.
Child care is important from an equality perspective not only on a pre-school basis but on a post-school basis to enable women to access employment, education and so on.
I am talking about inequality among children.
The Deputy should listen to the answer to his question. When I took office I found that no previous Government had done anything about setting up any child care projects. I initiated that operation as a result of which 73 approved child care projects are up and running. That scheme is ongoing and I invite any group interested in such a facility in a disadvantaged area to communicate with my Department where it will receive a sympathetic hearing. I am sure Deputy McDowell will agree that is a very welcome development. It is new and was not initiated by any Government prior to the Labour-Fianna Fáil Government of 1993.
The time is exhausted and there is important business to follow. The Deputy who tabled the question may ask a final supplementary.
Will the Minister respond to the 16 recommendations? Will he also clarify which Department is responsible? The Minister passed the buck to two Departments in response to the two questions I asked. While I appreciate the initiative under which 73 groups are up and running, hundreds of thousands of children are availing of pre-school child care facilities. This aspect warrants special attention and should be addressed urgently.
I quite agree. It is a very important area which is why I initiated this scheme. I will be happy to supply Deputy Callely with whatever information is available along those lines as far as my Department is concerned. Other Departments also have an involvement in this and he should address questions to them in regard to their areas of responsibility as far as the child care report is concerned.
That concludes questions for today.
Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.
