Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 April 2008
214 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the funding provided for out of school services and after school services in the context of disadvantage and generally across Government bodies such as the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, the Office of the Minister for Children and the Health Service Executive. [15930/08]
View answerUnder the National Childcare Investment Programme, €5.8 million has been allocated to dedicated out of schools services to date, of which €1.35 million is designated for RAPID and CLÁR areas. An additional €157 million has been allocated for larger integrated childcare services many of which also provide out of school places. Of these, €52 million is for services within RAPID and CLÁR areas. To end December 2007, approx. €415 million has been approved for Community Based Groups in capital and staffing funding under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP). Of this approx. €158 million has been allocated to RAPID and CLÁR areas. As the majority of projects offer an integrated service it is not possible to break down the amount of funding spent on each element of the service. However it is estimated that 40% of Community Groups funded under the EOCP provide out of school services.
