Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 6

Written Answers. - Child Health Services.

Bernard Allen

Question:

256 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to introduce community child health teams in order that problems identified by teachers or school nurses will be referred to the team to ensure early communication and discussion with the family and general practitioners. [27024/99]

Bernard Allen

Question:

257 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to introduce measures to ensure a greater and more detailed role for community paediatricians as recommended in the report, Best Health for Children. [27025/99]

Bernard Allen

Question:

258 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to set up a national child health commission for research into children's health issues, including equity, as recommended in the report, Best Health for Children. [27026/99]

Bernard Allen

Question:

259 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he will take to ensure the development of greater nursing specialisation in relation to children as recommended in the report, Best Health for Children. [27027/99]

Bernard Allen

Question:

260 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to ensure that a masters degree in community health should be developed for doctors wishing to specialise in the area of child health as recommended in the report, Best Health for Children. [27028/99]

Bernard Allen

Question:

261 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to introduce steps to ensure that the school health service be managed by a community child health co-ordinator as recommended by the report, Best Health for Children. [27029/99]

Bernard Allen

Question:

264 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to introduce regulations to implement the recommendation contained in the report, Best Health for Children, that the marital status of the mother should not be a factor in delaying the release of a birth notification by a hospital. [27032/99]

Bernard Allen

Question:

265 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he will take to implement the Best Health for Children report; and if he will to ensure that a new perinatal reporting system is introduced as well as a reform of the six week infant examination service. [27033/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 to 261, inclusive, and 264 and 265 together.

The Best Health for Children report represents the outcome of an initiative by chief executive officers of health boards to have child health services for pre-school and primary school children reviewed. The report recognises that many parts of the new model are already in place, or could be put in place with a minimum of effort. The report also recognises that some aspects of the new model present significant challenges in both commitment and in implementation. Following on from the finalisation of the report, the chief executive officers established a national conjoint child health committee for the purpose of overseeing the implementation of the recommendations of the report, and to ensure that the child health services are delivered in an equitable manner.

Accordingly, the issue of determining the manner in which the implementation of the report can be best advanced is a matter for the national child health committee in the first instance. Where additional resources are required they will be identified by the conjoint committee and notified to my Department.