asked the Minister for Health the allocation which has been made in the Estimates for the implementation of the task force report on child care; and when he will bring legislation before the Dáil.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Child Care.
4.
While there is no specific allocation in the published Estimates for the implementation of the task force report, I would hope that it will be possible, within the allocations made for the various elements of the community welfare programme, to bring about some improvements in child welfare services along the lines generally envisaged in the report. I might also mention that the allocation of £2 million for the establishment of a National Community Development Agency, referred to by my colleague, the Minister for Finance, in his budget speech, will facilitate initiatives to meet the needs of various deprived groups including children. In addition I shall have a small sum available for special developments and I will be giving sympathetic attention to spending this largely in the child care area. I am not in a position to give the Deputy further details at the moment.
At present I cannot say when exactly the new Childrens Bill will come before the House but I would expect to have it ready before the summer recess.
The Minister indicated in his reply that he will be introducing legislation along the lines of the recommendations of the task force report. Is the Minister in a position to indicate what areas this legislation will affect? Will it relate to a particular portion of the task force report or will it be concerned with implementing all of the principal recommendations of the report?
I made it clear earlier that I welcome the task force report and its major recommendations. I will be preparing a Bill which will include its major references and recommendations.
On the basis of the Bill dealing with the major recommendations of the task force report, can the Minister indicate whether the legislation will be concerned with placing illegitimate children in a position of legal equality with legitimate children and abolishing the concept of illegitimacy? Will he say whether he regards that as part and parcel of any Childrens Bill?
These matters will be considered in conjunction with the other Departments concerned.
In addition to considering the majority recommendations of the task force report, is the Minister taking into account the minority recommendations, which included one that legitimate children should be available for adoption in certain instances? Might I draw the Minister's attention to the fact that, in reply to a question I put to him yesterday, it appears that there are approximately 900 legitimate children at present who have been in care for over five years and who are unavailable for adoption? Would the Minister agree that the facility of adoption should be made available to children in these circumstances?
In the first instance, the Deputy asked me if I would ensure that this matter would be considered in the preparation of a Bill and I can say that it will be so considered.
Can the Minister explain the delay in introducing a new Childrens Bill taking into account the recommendations of the task force report?
Yes, it is very readily explained by the fact that Fianna Fáil went out of office for eight months and that at that time we had just commenced that work. I have given my undertaking now and I am pressing for the urgent introduction of this Bill. I can give the House my view that it will be introduced before this session concludes.
I shall ignore the Minister's inference that the world stopped in orbit during the period they were out of office.
This one did, yes.
May I ask the Minister this question—and I would like one straight answer—am I to understand from his reply to Deputy Shatter that it is still possible that the concept of illegitimacy will remain on the Statute Book after the process of consideration of legislation has been concluded? Or is it the case that the Government will do what this country knows to be right and abolish, once and for all, this most unacceptable inequality pertaining to some children?
The Deputy will appreciate that we, as a Government, would be just as anxious as were they to abolish such distinction. Nevertheless, one must have concern for all the issues involved and these will be considered in the context of preparation of the Bill. Deputies will have an opportunity of debating this matter further when the Bill is brought before the House.