asked the Minister for Health if he will define the Government's policy in relation to pre-school play groups and creche facilities; and if he will give details of the facilities being provided in this area.

29.

asked the Minister for Health the present position on the extension of provisions for playgroups and nursery centres for children of parents who are at work.

30.

asked the Minister for Health the steps which he intends to take to establish that acceptable standards are observed in the nursery centres for children operating in this country.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 29 and 30 together.

The Commission on the Status of Women made recommendations on the provision of day care for children of working mothers. The Minister for Labour is responsible for co-ordinating the implementation of the recommendations made by the commission.

As Minister for Health, I have a responsibility for the care of children of families in need of special support. Accordingly, health boards support the provision of nursery and day care facilities for children of these families. The categories normally provided for are children of single parent families; children whose mothers have been deserted or widowed and have to find employment because of economic necessity; and children of parents who, because of illness of similar circumstances, are not able to cope with the children at home without special support.

The number of nursery centres and crêches being provided or supported by the health boards is now 66 as compared to 31 in 1975. In addition, health boards give a variety of supports to pre-school playgroups run by community groups.

The policy of encouraging and supporting voluntary groups to provide day care facilities, for the categories of children I have mentioned, will continue. In the Eastern Health Board area, nurseries will in future be provided in each new major health centre and the board will, where necessary, provide small revenue grants to pre-school playgroups who up to now have been relying solely on local authority and community support.

Facilities provided with the support of a health board are subject to inspection and monitoring by officers of the board. The question of establishing and implementing minimum standards for all nursery centres is one of the matters being considered by the Task Force on Child Care Services.

In other countries at the beginning of the development of those things, because of the changing pattern of both parents going out to work, there was great abuse in regard to the provision of crêches. Will it be long before the study group are likely to report to the Minister so that he can take action in the matter?

We have no specific legislation at the moment. The situation is that our health board inspectors have complete freedom to inspect all those institutions because we are supporting them. It is an ad hoc arrangement.

I am not terribly worried about those because I am sure they are well run. What about the private ones that are now being set up all over the place? Obviously, children separated from their parents in this way are particularly difficult and the level of care would have to be particularly high. Instead of that it seems that anybody that can provide a room for the children feels they are able to supervise.

There is no specific legislation but whether or not there should be legislation would be something for the task force to consider. Certainly it is something that could be included in the Children's Act. We hope to have that Act next year.

Would the Minister distinguish between his area of responsibility and that of the Minister for Labour?

That question does not arise.

It was referred to in the first paragraph of the Minister's reply.

Even so, it is not referred to in the questions.

Children at risk and in need of support are my responsibility, by and large.

What are his?

All the other things recommended by the Commission on the Status of Women.

The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.