Vol. 546 No. 3
326 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he has established a county child care committee in each county; if these committees have drawn up county child care plans; the personnel involved in County Cork in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31362/01]
As the Deputy is aware, the Government's national child care strategy under the National Development Plan, 2000-2006, has assigned county-city child care committees as the key local component in the development of a co-ordinated approach to quality child care. The county-city child care committees are charged with the responsibility for the effective inclusion of child care needs within the county-city development plans being drawn up by the county and city development boards. Some 33 city-county child care committees have been established and are at varying stages of development. Each committee is in the process of developing a county-city child care plan, 2001-06, which will plan for the child care services for the counties based on a shared vision and analysis of the needs within each city-county area. The target date for receipt of the county child care plans in my Department is the end of 2001. The plans will then be submitted to the national co-ordinating child care committee, chaired by my Department, for consideration.
