Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government how children's welfare will be protected in the new social housing policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26069/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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National policy in relation to child care is the responsibility of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Within this context local authorities are involved in promoting child care at local level through a range of policies and activities. County/City Child care committees operate under the auspices of the local government-led County/City Development Boards to support a co-ordinated and integrated approach to child care in their area. Local authorities are represented on these committees. Multi-Agency Children Services Committees are currently being piloted in four local authorities and a further number of local authorities have applied to establish Children Services Committees within their area. The aim of these committees is to test models of best practice which promote integrated locally led strategic planning for child services across agencies. In relation to planning, local authorities have been required since 2001 to provide for crèche facilities in new residential developments. This requirement has been further reinforced by more recent and updated statutory guidelines. I am satisfied that local authorities are contributing to the development and implementation of child care policies in their areas. Finally, I might also add that guidelines for the protection of children were developed in 2008 and provided to local authorities by the Local Government Management Services Board.

Regarding the accommodation needs of children, the provision of accommodation specifically for children, where necessary, is a matter for the Health Service Executive. Accommodation of children in family contexts is provided for through a range of housing supports operated by local authorities, as outlined in the recently published Housing Policy Statement.