Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 132: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, and in what form, section 7 of the Child Care Act 1991 is still law; the way, and in what form, the role of the child care advisory committees was transferred to the Health Service Executive; the current role, activities, publications, reports and detailed membership of these committees or this committee; the way they are currently discharging their functions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42102/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I can confirm that Section 7 of the Child Care Act, 1991, as amended by the Health Act, 2004, is still in force. Section 7 relates to the establishment by the Health Service Executive (HSE) of 'Child Care Advisory Committees' and as such, the matter has been referred to the Executive for direct reply.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 133: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if, and in what form, section 8 of the Child Care Act 1991 is still law; the way and in the manner the Health Service Executive is discharging its responsibilities under section 8(3) and section 8(4) of the Act, listing the parties noticed; when she herself last received such a report and for what year; the way these functions are now being discharged; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42103/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The legal definition of the purpose and function of the Section 8 Report is set out in the Child Care Act, 1991.

The Report for 2008 is the latest Section 8 Report submitted. I laid that Report before the Houses of the Oireachtas in October 2009.

Having regard to the recommendations of the Commission to Inquire into Child

Abuse, officials from my Office met with the HSE earlier this year to discuss how the Section 8 Report could be enhanced and how the information now becoming available can be used in HSE performance reports submitted to the Department. I want future Section 8 Reports to demonstrate the Health Service Executive's ability to evaluate its own services, so the report has to contain not only data and descriptive information, but also good analysis of this. The report should be of use to the HSE itself in evaluating its year's work and identifying what has been achieved, what is working well and what is problematic or insufficient. I also want some indication in the report of how resources have been used by the HSE and to what effect; what the staffing situation is; and as much emphasis on Family Support as on Child Protection and Child Care.

A template for the drafting of future Section 8 Reports has now been agreed with the HSE and I expect to be provided with the 2009 Section 8 Report by the end of this year. It has also been agreed that future reports will be produced in a timely fashion.