Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 Apr 2000

Vol. 517 No. 4

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

100 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has conducted any assessment of the Child Care Act, 1991, as to its implementation and its efficacy in tackling child welfare concerns; if he has satisfied himself that current funding to health boards is adequate to meet the full aims and requirements of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9937/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

The efficacy of the child care services is reviewed on an ongoing basis. Under section 8 of the Child Care Act, 1991, each health board is obliged to submit an annual report on the adequacy of the child care and family support services available in its area. Health boards are also obliged to outline the services which they propose to provide in an annual service plan and to account for the expenditure of development funding received.

The Child Care Act, 1991, was implemented in full on 31 December 1996. Since 1991 additional revenue funding of the order of £102 million, over and above the cost of inflation and pay awards, has been invested to develop child care and family support services and to strengthen the capacity of the health boards to meet the demands of the Act. In addition, extra capital resources are being allocated in the national development plan for investment in residential services and community facilities and for the development of management information systems. Indicative figures of capital to be provided under the national development plan have issued to health boards and the details are being worked out between the health boards and my Department.

This Government's commitment to the further development of child care and family support and prevention services has been demonstrated by the wide range of initiatives which have been undertaken in the past two years. My predecessor established a working group on foster care to examine all aspects of foster care. The Springboard initiative was launched to develop pilot family support projects for children at risk and their families. This Government has also introduced the Children Bill which will reform the law in relation to juvenile offenders and children with behavioural problems. In addition, there has been a range of other initiatives such as the implementation of Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children, the launch of the homelessness initiative, the establishment of the social services inspectorate and the establishment of the special residential services board on an interim basis. Proposals are also being developed to establish a children's ombudsman and a national children's strategy is being drafted.

These initiatives underline the Government's commitment to the further development of child care services as indicated in the Government programme An Action Programme for the Millennium.