The efficacy of the child care services is reviewed on an ongoing basis. Under section 8 of the Child Care Act, 1991, each health board is obliged to submit an annual report on the adequacy of the child care and family support services available in its area. Health boards are also obliged to outline the services which they propose to provide in an annual service plan and to account for the expenditure of development funding received.
The Child Care Act, 1991, was implemented in full on 31 December 1996. Since 1991 additional revenue funding of the order of £102 million, over and above the cost of inflation and pay awards, has been invested to develop child care and family support services and to strengthen the capacity of the health boards to meet the demands of the Act. In addition, extra capital resources are being allocated in the national development plan for investment in residential services and community facilities and for the development of management information systems. Indicative figures of capital to be provided under the national development plan have issued to health boards and the details are being worked out between the health boards and my Department.