Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Apr 1998

Vol. 489 No. 6

Written Answers. - Education Projects.

Conor Lenihan

Question:

594 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will expedite the applications for capital funding for the Shanty education projects, An Cosán Building, Jobstown, Tallaght, Dublin 24. [8715/98]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

A sum of £60,000 has been approved from the childcare initiative scheme towards the childcare element in the Shanty project. Funding will be in two tranches and full drawdown of the £60,000 should be completed by the end of 1998. The drawdown of funds for the project will be contingent on satisfactory progress in relation to tendering, construction and expenditure.

The childcare initiative scheme of my Department is intended to assist the initiation of projects for the establishment, on a pilot basis, of childcare measures utilising the skills of trained local people, thereby enabling local residents to undertake education, training, retraining and employment opportunities which they would otherwise be unable to do, in the absence of a childcare facility.

It is a condition of the scheme that grants are confined to groups in disadvantaged areas and that the grants are for once-off capital funding only. The scheme is being administered, on behalf of my Department, by Area Development Management (ADM) Ltd. This is an independent company designated by the Government and by 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.