Vol. 503 No. 3
482 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to an application submitted for funding from a group (details supplied) in County Sligo for a new premises which is vital for the area; the amount of money which will be allocated; when it will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9810/99]
The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme is a two year programme which contains three funding initiatives – the capital infrastructure, the community support and the employers' demonstration initiatives – each of which has a separate budget with distinct criteria and targets. All three initiatives are interdependent and strive towards the common aim of improving the quality and quantity of child care provision in Ireland from an equal opportunities/disadvantaged perspective. The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme is administered by Area Development Management Limited (ADM) 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.
Applications were invited in relation to the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme in the national newspapers and the closing date for receipt of applications for funding under this two year programme was May-June 1998. All funding is being allocated on the basis of applications received in advance of the May-June 1998 deadline. The bulk of this funding was allocated in July of last year and a further £450,000 is now being allocated to applicants who met the qualifying criteria under the capital infrastructure strand.
The Busy Bees Community Playgroup in Sligo is one of the 16 organisations to which funding is now being provided. A sum of £45,000 is being provided to this group towards capital infrastructure expenditure. I understand Area Development Management Ltd. have recently informed the group of this funding and will make the necessary arrangements in relation to the drawdown of this funding.
