asked the Minister for Health the number of prosecutions of parents for neglect of children for the past five years.

The total number of prosecutions of parents for neglect of children initiated by health boards during the past five years is five.

Does the Minister consider that the figure five would indicate that the health boards are doing their job in this regard? While I do not propose that increased prosecutions of parents would be the total answer to the problems of neglected children, is the Minister satisfied with the situation in regard to the general neglect of children which is too widely visible at present?

I am not satisfied with the general situation but, as the Deputy knows, we are making very strenuous efforts to improve it. The number of prosecutions would not be an indication of whether or not the health boards are doing their duty. The health boards only take a prosecution as a last resort and seek instead to place a child in suitable conditions.

Does the Minister see any improvement in the near future in the general position of neglected children and other issues relevant to this?

We are working on it actively at present.

The Minister made reference to the strenuous efforts being made, but can he give an outline to the House of what they are and when they might come to fruition?

At present we are concentrating on the itinerant begging children in Dublin. We will get that situation under control.

How?

We cannot have a detailed discussion.

The educational centre in Strand Street is now operative and we are going to improve that. We are also going to provide a small overnight accommodation unit for these children. I assure the Deputy we regard it as a real and urgent problem.

Can the Minister give any indication of when we will have the long promised Children's Bill?

We are making every effort to get the work of the task force expedited. We are hoping to have a report fairly soon. I have already given an undertaking that legislation will be introduced this year. It is a little optimistic to hope that it will be enacted but it would be my strong wish that it would at least be introduced this year.

Does the date of July still stand for the final report?

I hope so. We have given the task force additional staff to help them.