Vol. 417 No. 1
42 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Labour if he will outline the specific steps currently being initiated in response to the National Economic and Social Council report on married women in the workforce, especially with regard to day care facilities.
The NESC report entitled "Women's Participation in the Irish Labour Market" was published in January last. The report provides an analytical contribution to certain aspects of policies affecting female labour force participation. The central policy issues raised in the report fall into three main areas: taxation, social welfare and child care services for working parents. The Government issued a statement on 28 January welcoming this report by the National Economic and Social Council and responding briefly to the policy issues raised in the report.
As regards those issues which concern the development of childcare services, the consultants' study commissioned by the NESC acknowledged the many different forms of childcare and identified day care facilities as only one form of provision among many. The study did not address the balance between different forms of care, such as day-care centres, childminding, playgroups, kindergartens, work-based nurseries, and so on, but focused on the broader question of providing financial support to childcare. Overall Government responsibility for the general welfare of children rests with my colleague, the Minister for Health. The Child Care Act, 1991 contains new provisions for the supervision and inspection of pre-school services for children. Regulations are being prepared which will give the health boards the lead responsibility for that task.
Child care services are identified in the council's report as a significant factor affecting married women's decisions about participation in the workforce.
In the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, the Government acknowledged the need for a policy to encourage the development of child care services as a collective responsibility. This not only calls for a co-ordinated response on the part of the different Government Departments involved, but will also necessitate collaboration with employer and community interests.
The Programme for Economic and Social Progress provided for the introduction of childcare facilities on a progressive basis in the public service with the State providing the physical facilities and the staff paying the running costs. In the context of Civil Service, this matter has been progressed and it is hoped to open the first such facility in the coming months.
