The Health Department is creating a Child Care Committee to help address affordability, quality and availability of the service in Bermuda.

It comes after weeks of confusion and anger from Child Care Givers who worry about being limited to watching three-children and the Government's announcement of a child care allowance.

Yesterday David Kendell, the Chief Environmental Health Officer, said he will be chairing the committee which will be formed under the guidance of the Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Cann.

Speaking yesterday after Thursday's child care provider meeting, Mr. Kendell said it had been constructive and the committee should help the initiative move forward.

He said: "We had a fruitful dialogue last night. What was good about it (the meeting) was that during our dialogue everybody was involved and now everyone will be organised as a group of child care givers."

Another meeting will be held for child care providers on November 26 to allow them to vote for their representatives on this committee and Mr. Kendell encouraged everyone to come out.

The committee will also involve, among others, Environmental Health Officers, education officers and health visitors to help review the Child Care Act and the provision of the service on the Island.

This all comes after the PLP in their Election platform promised "Free Child Care" and even in Premier Ewart Brown's economic address last month he called it "free".

In fact the initiative covers up to $800 per child per month for families who make less than $70,000 a year gross income.

And last week Minister of Social Rehabilitation Dale Butler admitted that families would still be responsible for any amount above the $800 and child care providers could charge what they needed to.

Further confusing the issue was the Department of Health reiterating the three-child limit enshrined in law for the past ten years.

But rather than trying to target child care providers, Mr. Kendell has said they are trying to ensure quality and help with the development of the child.

Explaining why the limit is imposed, he pointed to the Department of Health's role which falls under the Children's Act 1998, and states that they must ensure the operator and staff of day care centres are qualified.

They must also ensure the centres are safe, of good quality and appropriate to the needs of the children — and smaller groups means lower risk of infection, according to Mr. Kendell.

Anyone wishing to set-up a child care business can contact Environmental Health at 278-4976 and child care givers can attend the meeting on November 26 at the Goodwin C Smith Hall on the corner of Dundonald and Union street between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.