Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat. The Minister has answered some of the points. Obviously, sections 2 to 9, which are the flesh of the Child Care (Amendment) Act, are still to be brought into force. I accept that the Minister referred to the legislation being commenced. In some ways, we had reservations in respect of the Act, not because it was bad legislation but as a result of the fact that it contained a number of deficiencies. An aftercare plan is one thing but the provision of aftercare - and all the resources necessary to ensure the quality of such care and to see to it that the plan is implemented - is quite another.

To flag up one point, I will be publishing a Bill on this, the child care (amendment) Bill 2017, which I hope we will be able to discuss at some point. Can the Minister give even a ballpark estimate regarding the timescale for the commencement of those sections of the Child Care (Amendment) Act and for the publication or conclusion of the consultation piece she discussed?

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