Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the appointment of Ms Gibbons. She will be an excellent chair of the family support agency. Is it not embarrassing that Ms Gibbons will take over this role after producing a report two and a half years ago on the Roscommon case? It recommended an audit of serious neglect cases. That audit was completed two years ago by Ms Lynne Peyton.

I understand she will meet the Minister in the next couple of weeks to discuss that particular audit and the audits for the other two areas. Despite that we were promised a redacted report, an executive summary of it, an executive summary of an amalgam of the three audited areas, that publication of the report was imminent and, six months ago, that Mr. Gordon Jeyes had the report for sign-off, it has not yet been published. As I have stated on the record of this committee on a number of occasions in the past, some of the issues raised in that report, specifically in relation to Roscommon, are of huge concern to me as a public representative for the area. I do not know what has happened in the other two areas, but I have huge concerns that despite the audit having been completed over two years ago, which highlighted serious concerns, we are still awaiting publication of it. When will the amalgamated report be published and when will we have an opportunity to debate it?

I raised two other issues earlier, the first of which is when the legislation relating to the Children First guidelines will be enacted. Perhaps the Minister would also clarify if all child care services for children cared for outside the home, in respect of which money changes hands, will be covered under that legislation? The fear is that what we will have is another set of double standards in relation to child care services in this country. An issue continually highlighted, including again in today's newspapers, is the differential between rates for community care facilities and private facilities, which there is no doubt has had an impact on the Croke Park II vote. We have a situation whereby private providers who provide any service other than ECCE are liable for rates, which is leading to a restriction in the availability of services and after-school care, in respect of which there is currently a crisis in this country. The rates situation in this regard is causing a huge problem and is facilitating outcomes such as the "No" vote in respect of the second Croke Park agreement. One small step in this area could help to alleviate some of the pressure on families and open up availability and competition in the area.