Cecilia Keaveney
Question:371 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the financial supports available for crèche providers to improve their facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3369/00]
Written Answers. - Child Care Programme.
Over 1998 and 1999, funding of £11 million was provided for an equal opportunities child care programme which supported the development of child care from a social inclusion and equal opportunities perspective. This programme provided supports under a number of strands including capital grants for the establishment, upgrading and enhancement of 106 community based child care facilities and grants towards the cost of two senior level child care personnel in each of 25 identified flagship community projects. The programme also supported an employer demonstration initiative designed to encourage employer involvement in the development of services for their employees which led to the establishment and upgrading of child care facilities in eight projects involving 21 employers. Funding has also been provided under the programme for the development of six national voluntary child care organisations, training and development in community based child care projects, the development of a national child care census and database, research into family friendly policies and for child care training for staff in drug service locations.
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, child care has been identified as a priority area for investment in the National Development Plan 2000 to 2006 which provides £250 million to my Department to support the development of child care service provision over the next seven years. This funding will support the following range of measures. Expanded equal opportunities child care programme including capital grants to establish, upgrade and enhance community based child care facilities; staffing grants for community based child care services; training supports for community based child care services; supports for the national voluntary child care organisations; supports to build on existing child care initiatives; supports for new innovative and flexible child care initiatives; support towards the development of local child care networks; and new capital grant scheme for child care service providers catering for up to 20 child care places. The grants will support providers to establish, upgrade or enhance their services assisting them to provide a safe environment for children. It is intended to advertise the availability of these new schemes in the coming weeks.
In the recent budget, my colleague, the Minister for Finance, announced the introduction of a scheme which will provide for accelerated capital allowances at the rate of 100% in the first year for expenditure on the construction, refurbishment or extension of premises used for child care purposes. This relief is available to all child care facilities whether provided by employers or commercial child care operators. The measure came into effect from 1 December 1999 and is subject to clearance by the EU Commission.
In addition the provision of free or subsidised child care facilities by employers, whether "in-house" or in premises made available by the employer in another location, is exempt from a benefit-in-kind charge on employees benefiting from the facilities.
My Department has also been assigned responsibility for co-ordinating child care service delivery and structures are being established at national and local levels to this end. The structures include an interdepartmental committee on child care, a national co-ordinating child care committee, both of which will be chaired by my Department and county child care committees which will be led by the relevant health board. It is intended that the structures will facilitate an integrated approach to child care service delivery.