asked the Minister for Health when and how he plans to implement the task force report on child care services.
Written Answers. - Child Care Services.
848.
The Deputy will appreciate that the present constraints on resources must necessarily impede the extent to which the wide range of recommendations contained in the report referred to can be implemented, presuming their acceptance by the Government. However, it is hoped that a limited allocation of money will be made available in the current financial year such as will enable some initial steps to be taken towards the improvement of the child care services along the lines generally envisaged in the report.
Side by side with this health boards are being requested to review their existing child care services with a view to effecting any necessary changes in emphasis or in the manner of delivery of existing services, having due regard to the recommendations of the report. Meanwhile work is proceeding on the preparation of the new Children Bill which I would hope to bring to the House before the summer recess.