Alan M. Dukes
Ceist:14 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform when he intends to publish the report of the Working Committee on Child Care; the cost of its recommendations; and the starting dates for its implementation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Report of Working Party on Child Care.
I intend to consider the publication of the report of the working party on child care for working parents when it is submitted to me. Pending receipt of the report I am not in a position to indicate possible costs of recommendations or details regarding their possible implementation.
Does the Minister agree that the provision of proper facilities for the children of working parents is an essential prerequisite, in particular if mothers are to play an equal role in the workforce and have genuine equal opportunities? Because of attitudes in society at present, more often it is the mother who is left to care for the children while her husband is at work. Does the Minister regard this as a priority to be addressed? How does he intend to ensure that this report is made available to us and implemented with a bit more speed than the promises he has been making around the country about mediation and legal aid, none of which he is able to deliver on?
The Deputy is being rather cynical when he says they have not been delivered on. The Government's policy has been spelt out clearly, but we have been in office for little more than 100 days and our policies will be implemented in accordance with the statements that have been made.
How?
So far as the working party on child care for working parents is concerned, I agree with the Deputy's broad comments that this is a very important issue. The latest information I have is that the working party is due to report within the next couple of months. As soon as the report comes to hand I will examine it in consultation with other Departments that may be involved to see how best its recommendations can be implemented.
Is the Minister aware that in 1991 this Dáil decided that there should be regulation of pre-school child care facilities and no Government since then has brought such legislation into effect? Does he consider that the implementation of existing legislation passed by this House might be a first priority before proceeding further so that we can demonstrate at least that when the House decides on something it happens?
That would be a matter for another Department. I suggest that Deputy Bruton, as he should know, should put down a question to the appropriate Minister on that subject and no doubt he will get his answer.
Is the Minister saying that the working party on child care for working parents has not yet given its report to his colleague, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Deputy Quinn?
Yes.
This report is long overdue; it was promised months ago. It is very disturbing to hear the Minister say that it will not be published for several months.
The Minister said also that the Government has made clear its policy on child care but I disagree and I now ask what is the national policy on child care and how does he ensure that a national child care policy is developed and implemented over the coming months and years?
The working party was set up for the purpose of devising specific recommendations on how the question of child care partnerships might be developed. I agree with the Deputy that it is disappointing that there has been some undue delay on the part of the working party in producing its report. I have asked them to speed it up; but, as I said already, the information will be available in a couple of months. I have been given no specific date, but I can assure the Deputy that as soon I receive it I will examine its recommendations to see how they can be implemented so that the necessary facilities can be provided on as broad a base as possible.
Have pilot projects in child care partnerships been set up in local areas and has the Minister any report on that?
I have no information about that.
Is the Minister aware that in the Fianna Fáil and Labour Programme for a Partnership Government 1993-1997, the Government committed itself on page 37 “to a major expansion of child care facilities”? Is the Minister now telling the House that when Labour and Fianna Fáil committed themselves to this single sentence in the progrmme for Government, neither party had the slightest idea what it meant or how it could be implemented?
The Government supports the principle of having child care partnerships set up. The method by which that would be done——
We are all in favour of fatherhood, motherhood and babies.
The Deputy does not seem to want to listen to the answer. The method by which that would be done and the arrangements for it have been under extensive examination by the interested parties — IBEC, ICTU, FÁS, the Department of Health and so on — and other experts. Obviously, it makes sense to wait until the report comes through so that the details of the recommendations made can be implemented. We are waiting for that report and when it comes to hand we will progress it further.
This is extraordinary. I tabled a question and was given the same reply some time ago. I do not know if the Minister is aware that the same answer was given by the previous Minister last July. Would the Minister explain if there is a problem and why there is such a delay on this report? One might suspect that the matter is not being treated seriously. Can I take it that the fact that there is such a long delay is an indication of the low priority this matter is being given now that the Government is in place?
I have no reason to suppose that. As I said, it is an independent broadly based working party and the representatives on it come from IBEC, ICTU, FÁS and so on. I do not know the reason for the delay but I presume they are doing an exhaustive examination. However, I will communicate with them to try to have the report speeded up.
I welcome the Minister's commitment to ensure that this report is speeded up, but can the Minister tell when the group last met?
I do not have that information but I will make inquiries about it.