Ivor Callely
Question:122 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health the current needs of our child care services; the identified costs of providing such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4177/97]
Written Answers. - Child Care Services.
The Government is committed to the ongoing development of child care services, In this regard, an additional £5 million has been made available in the budget to further develop child care services in 1997.
The funding will allow for: initiatives to strengthen arrangements for reporting of child abuse; improvements in the provision of residential care for vulnerable children; an increase in the foster care allowance for children under 12 years of age; and implementation by health boards of the final two parts of the Child Care Act including inspection of pre-school services.
This brings to £40 million on an annualised basis the funding that has been provided since 1993 to develop child care and family support services and to strengthen the capacity of the health boards to meet the demands imposed by the implementation of the Child Care Act. Over 900 permanent posts have been created in the child care area since 1993.