Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 146: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if her Department is represented on the high level group on early childhood care and education and when it is expected to report to the Cabinet committee on children. [26487/05]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The high level working group on early childhood care and education to which the Deputy refers was established by the Cabinet committee on children in June 2003. The director of the National Children's Office, NCO, which is part of my Department, chairs the group. The terms of reference of the group are "to recommend an integrated national policy on child care and early education which will result in improved co-ordination at national and local level and which incorporates a child centred approach to service delivery."

Members of the group initially comprised representatives from the Department of Education and Science, Department of Health and Children, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education. In April 2005, the high level working group prepared an interim report for the Cabinet committee. At that stage, it was agreed that the Department of Finance and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment should join the group.

The Taoiseach's office has liaised closely with the group and while not a formal member, it has participated in the deliberations of the group since then, attending the majority of meetings of the group. A second interim report was prepared for the Cabinet committee in July 2005. The Cabinet committee on children received an options paper from the group in early October and this is being considered at present.