Vol. 506 No. 2
60 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress to date on the interdepartmental group on child care; the number of occasions on which this group has met; the consultation which has taken place with parents and service providers; and when he will receive the group's final report. [15391/99]
The task of the interdepartmental committee on child care, which was established by the Government last February, is very specific. The terms of reference given to the committee require it to evaluate, cost and prioritise the child care proposals in the reports of the expert working group on child care, the Commission on the Family, the National Forum for Early Childhood Education, in addition to the Government's child care proposals in An Action Programme for the Millennium. The terms of reference also require the committee to report back to Government within six months. In view of this, the committee has not been engaged in consultations with parents or service providers. However, I would point out that the recommendations in the three reports under consideration, were developed following consultations with all of the relevant stakeholders.
