Vol. 486 No. 6
278 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the need for additional child care support for families, particularly those with pre-school children; whether he will provide additional funding to address this need; and the proposals, if any, he has in this regard. [2567/98]
The Government is conscious of the need for child care facilities for parents to enable them to participate in the workplace and to take up education and training opportunities. It is committed to the stimulation of the development of quality, affordable facilities which will benefit both parents and children. My Department is chairing the expert working group on child care which was established under Partnership 2000 in July 1997 for the purpose of devising a national framework for the development of quality child care facilities. The term "child care" is used by the expert working group to describe daycare facilities and services for pre-school children and school-going children out of school hours.
The members of the group are considering a range of child care issues and are committed to pursuing a policy of equality of access and participation. The group aims to present its report to Government by the end of December 1998. The group also aims to produce an interim report by June 1998. In addition, my Department is seeking to address the need for child care facilities as an equal opportunities measure through the pilot child care initiative programme. The programme which provides capital funding for the establishment of child care facilities in disadvantaged areas is targeted at parents who seek to participate in employment, training or education.
The role of my Department in developing a child care infrastructure as an equal opportunities measure has been underpinned by EU funds. A new measure, child care infrastructure, was inserted at the mid-term review of the Community Support Framework and a nominal one million ecus from the European Regional Development Fund was allocated to my Department for that purpose. Further recognition of the equal opportunities dimension of child care is contained in the employment guidelines agreed at the Luxembourg Employment Summit in December 1997, which require member states to strive to raise levels of access to child care services as an equal opportunities measure. Each member state must draw up an action plan by 14 April 1998 which includes how it intends to increase its child care provision. My Department will be fully involved in ensuring that Ireland meets the commitments under the guidelines in relation to provision of child care.
As regards the question of additional funding, I would point out that a sum of £2.615 million has been allocated in my Department's 1998 budget for the continuation of the pilot child care initiative and for the expert working group on child care. This compares with an allocation of £800,000 for child care in 1997.
