Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004
247 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the recommendations he has to enhance the future of child care and crèche facilities in view of the importance of supporting child care facilities and the discontinuance of crèche supplements to eligible low income parents. [26435/04]
View answerThe equal opportunities child care programme operated by my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, provides capital funding to both private and community based groups, as well as funding for the staffing costs of certain community based child care facilities. That programme assists parents to avail of educational, training or employment opportunities.
Health boards have the primary responsibility for provision of child welfare supports under the Child Care Act. In that context, the question of adequate ongoing health board funding arrangements for community based or not-for-profit crèches is a matter for consideration in the context of health service financing generally.
I consider that child care and child welfare supports are best provided by consolidating and improving these programmes.
