Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 31 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 2

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Bernard Allen

Question:

60 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he has satisfied himself that the drawing down of funds under the social inclusion and child care sub-programme of the national development plan is being dealt with in an effective way by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2382/01]

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

63 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the plans he has to speed up the drawing down of funds under the social inclusion and child care sub-programme of the national development plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2401/01]

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation (Dr. McDaid)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 63 together.

The local development work of area based partnerships and ADM community groups continues to be supported with funding under the social inclusion and child-care sub-programme of the regional operational programmes. This funding amounts to £220 million over the life of the National Development Plan 2000-2006. A sum of £122 million has also been provided for the national drugs strategy under the sub-programme for this period.

The new local development measure required that local action plans were drawn up by partnership companies and ADM community groups, in consultation with the director of community and enterprise of the relevant city and county development boards. These plans were submitted to ADM Limited by December 2000, and were evaluated by ADM's appraisal committees for the southern and eastern region, and for the Border, midlands and western region.

In 2000 more than £16 million was drawn down under the new programme. Last year also saw the completion of work under the previous local development programme. The allocation of funding for the period 2000 to 2003 is now taking place. A sum of £34.5 million has been allocated to ADM for partnerships and community groups to implement their action plans in 2001. Allocations are subject to an annual review and the amounts allocated may be increased or decreased on the basis of each group's effectiveness in carrying out their plan.

Under the drugs initiative, an amount of more £9 million has been drawn down under the NDP. This amount relates to expenditure under the existing local drugs task force plans. The task forces are currently finalising updated plans for assessment by the national drugs strategy team. No deadline was set for the submission of updated plans in order to give the task forces as much time as they needed to develop new strategies. However, to date, seven plans have been submitted with the remaining seven expected over the coming months. Draw down on the new plans should commence early in 2001 as plans are approved and projects are established.