Vol. 345 No. 5
asked the Minister for Labour if he has considered the report of the working party on child care facilities for working parents with a view to introducing legislation to implement its recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
20.
asked the Minister for Labour the organisations or bodies that have been invited to make submissions on the recommendations contained in the report of the working party on child care facilities for working parents.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together.
The recommendations in the report of the working party on child care facilities for working parents have implications for a number of Departments. The main reccommendations of relevance to my Department relate to bringing part-time and temporary workers and other similar categories within the scope of certain protective labour legislation where they are not already covered and the possibility of providing for the extension of the period of unpaid maternity leave.
The eligibility thresholds in certain areas of legislation administered by the Department of Labour exclude employees who work for shorter periods than the prescribed minima. The question of extending the eligibility of such workers is being considered as part of a general examination being undertaken in conjunction with EEC Commission proposals regarding the protection of part-time workers.
The matter of extending the period of unpaid maternity leave will be considered when the Maternity Protection of Employees Act,1981, is being reviewed.
So far as the question of submissions on the recommendations in the report is concerned, the position is that when the Minister for Labour accepted the working party's Report on 10 March 1983, he urged all representative bodies and interest groups to make their views known on the recommendations to the Government and individual Ministers concerned. The invitation was of a general nature not confined to particular bodies or groups. To date, no submissions have been received by the Minister.
On 16 March of last year, in reply to a similar question from me, the Minister indicated that he would be seeking submissions from interested organisations. It has taken two years to prepare the report and a large number of organisations and individuals have already made submissions. Would the Minister, even at this late stage, fix a closing date for submissions and invite organisations or individuals to make submissions prior to that date, publicly, through advertisements in the press or otherwise, so that decisions can be made in relation to the recommendations contrained in the report?
The position, as I indicated, is that the Minister for Labour, when he accepted the report publicly invited submissions. He unfortunately has not received any submissions to date. I, for my part, would add my voice and invite all interested groups and bodies to make their views known, even at this late stage. This document deserves consideration and attention.
The Minister of State will be aware that submissions have already been made by a number of organisations to the original committee, when established. For this reason, there may be a reluctance on their part to resubmit recommendations which I am sure have been given consideration by the committee in the course of their meetings. In view of the fact that there are implications involving other Departments, what efforts are being made and what communication exists or who is co-ordinating the efforts so that some action can be taken on the recommendations? I am well aware that many recommendations have been made to the Department, but have financial commitments been decided upon by the Government?
The Deputy is quite correct that the working party received submissions from a large number of groups and individuals and the members of the working party will, of course, have regard to these submissions in preparing their report. It is felt helpful, now that the conclusions of the working party are available, that those groups who initially found it necessary to express an interest, and others, express their views on the conclusions drawn by the working party. The recommendations cover a number of Government Departments. I have already indicated that there are some in relation to my own Department, in relation to the Departments of Health, Education, the Public Service and the Environment and the individual recommendations are being considered within the Departments.
Will the financial commitment be there to implement these recommendations?
Each Department in considering the recommendations of interest to them will be looking at, amongst other things, the financial implications.
Firstly, the Minister has not given a clear answer as to whether or not he will set a final date for the receipt of submissions so that some work can be done on the report and some decisions made. Could he also indicate if his Department have considered implementing regulations governing existing child care facilities which are privately run and which are not controlled in any way in relation to hygiene, safety and so forth? Would he give an indication that this is being dealt with in any kind of urgent manner?
To deal with the second part of the Deputy's question, the control of existing facilities would primarily be a matter for the Department of Health. I understand that the Deputy has put a question down for the Minister for Health who will be replying later from the Order Paper. In regard to the question of fixing at this stage a closing date, I am quite prepared to consider that and to write to the Deputy on the matter in the very near future.
