Vol. 517 No. 3
253 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the £10 million grant scheme for child care services providers, announced in the budget, will be made available; if so, the timeframe in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9586/00]
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department has been allocated £250 million under the national development plan for expenditure on child care in the period 2000 to 2006. The objectives of the equal opportunities child care programme are to increase the numbers of child care places and facilities available in Ireland and to improve the quality of child care facilities. The programme will have a number of different strands designed to achieve these objectives and will include a capital grants scheme for self-employed child care providers catering for up to 20 child care places. The criteria and the eligibility requirements for the measures being provided under the programme are being developed. The application forms and guidelines for these initiatives are at the design stage and will shortly be going to print.
