19 Mr. Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of the sections of the Child Care Act, 1991, which have been brought into effect since the beginning of 1992; if he will outline the number of sections of the Act which remain to be brought into effect; if any timetable has been set for the implementation of the outstanding sections; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

21 Dr. G. FitzGerald asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the prospective date for the implementation of the remaining sections of the Child Care Act, 1991.

81 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the sections of the children Act which have as yet not been brought into legal effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

130 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Health when he intends to make an order or orders to bring the Child Care Act, 1991 into effect.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 21, 81 and 130 together.

The Child Care Act 1991 was enacted by the Oireachtas on 10 July last.

Given the scale and complexity of the new legislative provisions contained in the Act, it has always been recognised by all sides of the House and by the various interests groups that the Act would have to be implemented on a phased basis over a number of years. This is acknowledged in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress which contains a specific commitment to implement the legislation over the period of the seven-year programme.

Certain provisions of the Act were brought into operation on 1 December last. These include Section 74 which imposes new legal controls on the sale of solvents to children.

The following provisions of the Act were brought into operation on 1 June of this year: