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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Dec 1996

Vol. 473 No. 2

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Ivor Callely

Question:

57 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Equality and Law Reform the number of places available in childcare facilities funded by his Department; the total number of children who avail of childcare, creche and pre-school facilities; his views on the need to introduce measures to respond to such services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24748/96]

In so far as it relates to my Department the position is as follows. Since 1994, my Department has provided funding for a pilot childcare initiative, the purpose of which is to assist the initiation of projects for the establishment of childcare measures utilising the skills of trained local people, to enable local residents to avail of education, training, re-training and employment opportunities which they would otherwise be unable to do in the absence of a childcare facility.

Funding under the initiative, which is limited to once-off capital grants, is confined to groups in disadvantaged areas. These are defined as those areas where there are area based partnerships — local community groups currently in receipt of funds from the global grant for local development. The pilot childcare initiative is administered by area development management ADM Ltd. on behalf of my Department. ADM is an independent company designated by the Government and the European Commission to support integrated local economic and social development in co-operation with relevant area partnership companies established by the Government in designated disadvantaged areas.
It is estimated that there are approximately 2,000 childcare places in the 73 projects which were given financial assistance under the pilot childcare initiative in the period to the end of November 1996. Approximately 900 of these places are directly attributable to the funding provided by my Department.
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