asked the Minister for Health if a decision has yet been made with regard to helping child care centres.

On 4th March I informed a deputation from the Conference of Major Religious Superiors that the capitation rate payable in respect of children in residential homes is being increased from £18 to £22 a week per child, with effect from 1st January, 1977. This represents an increase of over 22 per cent.

I further informed the deputation that an inter-departmental committee had already been set up to urgently examine the general question of financing the homes and to make recommendations in the matter by 31st March, 1977. A further meeting with representatives of The Conference of Major Religious Superiors will take place on 20th April, 1977.

Can the Minister assure the House there will be no closure of any of these child care centres in the meantime? I am sure he has seen the comment by the superiors on his offer of an increase of £4 a week. There is a great danger some of these centres will close. They may have to close.

These suggestions were made to me and again in the public press by the major religious orders. I hope none of these homes will be closed. There is an interdepartmental committee comprised of Finance, Health, Justice and Education urgently examining the position to see what can be done in both the short- and the long-term. I have seen the notification to the effect that they may close and it certainly would not be my intention to allow that to happen. Until this interdepartmental committee comes up with a report there is nothing useful I can say at this stage except that, by agreement with those responsible, on last Friday, a meeting was arranged for 20th April at which proposals will be considered.

If one of these children is sent to prison it will cost three times the amount it will cost to keep him in a child care centre. We do not close the prisons. We find the money for them all right.