Vol. 529 No. 1
1077 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of new child care places created in 2001; the amount of money allocated to various individuals, groups and organisations to create new places; the names of those to whom allocations have been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2340/01]
My Department operates the equal opportunities child care programme and has responsibility for £250 million being provided for child care under the National Development Plan 2000-2006. My Department has also been allocated by the Government a further £26.5 million as part of an additional £40 million package for child care. This funding has been targeted at measures intended to maintain and increase the number of child care places available. To date I have approved funding to 272 projects which will directly impact on the number of child care places being supported and created – these projects range from child care centres to single operator child care service providers. The total amount committed by my Department to these projects, to date, is £22.1 million. To date funding under the Programme will create over 3,200 new childcare places and will support over 3,700 existing places. The funding will also lead to improvements in quality and, in some cases, allow child care providers extend their opening hours. The Deputy has requested a list of the name and organisations in receipt of grant aid from my Department's Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme and the amounts that have been allocated. As the list is quite lengthy, I will not detail them here. However I have made a list of the 272 projects available to the Deputy.
