Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 99: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children her views on the introduction of financial support for child care in the context of budget 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31256/05]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Decisions on the issuance of financial support towards the cost of child care are currently under consideration by the Government. This follows the submission to the Cabinet committee on children of a set of policy options developed by the high level working group on early childhood care and education chaired by the National Children's Office, NCO, which is under my remit.

The high level working group on early childhood care and education was established by the Cabinet committee on children in June 2003. The director of the NCO chairs the group. The group's terms of reference 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, the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the 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 Department of the Taoiseach has also liaised closely with the group.

A second interim report was prepared for the Cabinet committee in July 2005. The Cabinet committee on children received the options paper from the group in early October and this is being considered at present.