Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

I knew Deputy Ó Caoláin would not delay in bringing the matter to my attention in the Dáil. I was very impressed with the service when I visited it on 17 February. I have spoken on the service since in the Seanad. As the Deputy is aware, county child care committees exist in every county. I spoke to the child care committee after I saw the service and suggested that the initiative which it had begun could be replicated and deserved to be. One way of taking it forward would be through the national child care committee system. I have initiated a new programme on county child care committees, namely, that they should work together at national level and begin to identify priorities at a national level as well as at a county level. This service is an example of an initiative which is all about getting services to families in an easier way for them. The service could be followed. I am awaiting evaluation reports from the community development initiatives which will also look at how well that type of service is working. Instead of parents having to go to appointments in a clinic, the services would be brought to them in a location where they are likely to be with their young children.

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