Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 27 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 2

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

As part of the Government's policy on the provision of child care, I announced in my budget speech in December 2000 the allocation of £10 million capital over two years for the provision of 15 crèches for civil servants throughout the country. In response to this announcement, my Department entered into negotiations with the Civil Service unions on the structures necessary to oversee such a major expansion of child care facilities.

It was agreed with the staff side that a new Civil Service child care agency would be established. Management of the existing Mount Street crèche and the Marlborough Street crèche, which will be operational by autumn 2001, will be the responsibility of the agency once established.

The role of the agency will be to: promote the provision of crèches in the Civil Service in accord ance with Government policy; advise Departments generally on that provision; and contract with suitable individuals or companies to run Civil Service crèches, on foot of tenders considered and decided by the board in accordance with normal public accounting procedures.

In early May a circular issued to all Departments outlining procedures for drawing down funds for the provision of Civil Service crèches. Departments were requested to survey the child care needs of their staff, and, where there was sufficient demand, to submit outline proposals for the establishment of crèches to my Department by 15 June.

There has been a satisfactory response rate to date and a number of proposals are under active consideration. The more promising proposals will be developed in co-operation with the Office of Public Works and the Departments concerned.

I believe this initiative will lead to a substantial increase in the number of crèche places available to children of civil servants.

Question No. 26 answered with Question No. 23.