30 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform when the working group on child care for working parents issued its recommendations; the progress, if any, there has been on each recommendation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12329/97]

The Working Group on Child Care Facilities for Working Parents reported in February 1994 and made 16 recommendations covering a wide range of issues in the child care area. A summary of the recommendation follows. Progress continues to be made in responding to the recommendations of this report, which are targeted at a wide range of community, public service and private sector interests.

My Department's plot initiative on child care projects is responding to recommendations 1, 4, 5 and 11. Grant aid under this scheme, which is being administered on behalf of my Department by Area Development Management (ADM) Limited, is available in respect of start-up capital costs of pilot child care projects. To date, a total of £2,359,000 has been approved for funding 141 projects. In addition, the Employment Equality Agency, under the aegis of my Department, has contributed to encouraging initiatives by issuing its publication of best practice at national and international level in the area of family friendly initiatives in the workplace.

With regard to recommendations 2, 6 and 7, the National Economic and Social Forum and subcommittee of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work gave consideration to the job potential of child care services. Under Partnership 2000, the expert working group, to be chaired by my Department, is to devise a national framework for the development of child care services and the conclusions of these studies on the job potential of the sector will be examined in that context. The attention of the relevant planning authorities has been brought by the Department of the Environment to the inclusion of child care facilities in housing and shopping developments and disadvantaged lone parents at work are included in the category of parents for whom pre-school services and supports can be made available by health boards, under the Department of Health.