, Limerick East): The sections of the Child Care Act, 1991, which remain to be implemented are Part VII of the Act, which deals with the supervision and inspection of pre-school services and Part VIII which relates to the registration of children's residential homes. As I have stated previously, it is my intention that the outstanding sections of the Child Care Act be implemented by the end of this year.
Part VII of the Act will require health boards to supervise and inspect créches, nurseries, pre-schools, play groups and other similar services for pre-school children. It will be necessary to prepare regulations in relation to the standards of care, accommodation and facilities to be provided in pre-schools. A working group representative of statutory and voluntary organisations is currently preparing guidelines on the content of the regulations.
In relation to Part VIII, a working group has already prepared a draft set of standards for residential care centres and these will form the basis of the regulations to be prepared under Part VIII of the Act.