Vol. 460 No. 3
156 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health, in respect of each health board area, the number of staff who have specific responsibility for implementation of the Child Care Act; the number of cases currently being dealt with; whether it is planned to increase the resources available for implementation of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19302/96]
The statutory responsibility for the implementation of the Child Care Act, 1991 rests with the health boards.
The staff in each board involved with the implementation of the legislation range from the chief executive officer to administrative, professional and other staff who have varying degrees of responsibility with regard to the provision of child care services. In addition, child care services are provided by voluntary agencies on behalf of health boards in accordance with the provisions of the Act.
Since 1993, over 850 additional posts have been approved as part of the development of child care services. A significant element in this regard has been the creation of the post of child care development officer in each health board area. The primary responsibility of the holder of this office is to identify child care priorities and to develop appropriate policies and services in response to current and future needs.
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of child care cases being dealt with at present by the health boards is not available in my Department. Given the range and nature of cases presenting to health boards, such information is not collected as a matter of routine.
In relation to the question of additional resources, the House will be aware that, in the period from 1993 to 1995, additional funding of £30 million on an annualised basis was made available to health boards to develop their services to meet the provisions of the Child Care Act. The Health Estimates 1996 provide for a further round of new child care developments in the current year as part of the implementation process.
