Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 30 Jun 1998

Vol. 493 No. 3

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

282 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children the steps, if any, he will take to secure and provide the appropriate resources to the relevant agencies to ensure that a properly instituted, administered and financed framework of child care legislation is put in place in order that, against a backdrop of a coherent overall Government child care strategy, the implementation of mandatory reporting of child sex abuse may be considered as recommended in the report of the independent inquiry into matters relating to child sexual abuse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15843/98]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. Fahey)

Discussions regarding my Department's estimates for 1999 and for general expenditure during the period 1999-2001 are currently in progress with the Department of Finance. These discussions are not yet finalised. With regard to the mandatory reporting of child abuse, the Government is committed to the preparation of a White Paper on this issue and to the introduction of mandatory reporting during the life-time of the Government.