Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 8 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 2

Written Answers. - Child Care Provision.

Noel Ahern

Question:

121 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the various child care groups which have received grants under the equal opportunity scheme in the past two to three years in the Dublin north west area; the number of children each group looks after or plans to look after; whether each grant was a capital grant or for staffing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3386/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

My Department operates the equal opportunities childcare programme and has responsibility for £250 million being provided for childcare 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 childcare. The objectives of this funding are to maintain and increase the number of childcare places available, to improve the quality of childcare provision and to ensure the co-ordination of childcare service provision on a local and national basis.

Up to the end of December 2000, over the past three years in the Dublin north west constituency, I have approved funding to 13 childcare groups. The total amount committed by my Department to these groups is almost £1.69 million.

To date under the equal opportunities childcare programme in the National Development Plan 2000-2006, in Dublin north west over 90 new childcare places will be created and the continuance of over 450 existing places will be assured. This funding will also lead to improvements in quality and, in some cases, allow childcare providers extend their opening hours.

The Deputy has requested a list of the childcare groups in Dublin north west which have received grant aid under my Department's equal opportunities childcare programme over the past three years. These details are outlined in Table 1 as follows in respect of the current programme.

Table 1

Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006

Dublin North West Constituency

Group Name	Address	Grant Type	Current Childcare Places	Future Childcare Places
Ballymun Women'sResource Centre	11 Sillogue RoadBallymunDublin 11	Staffing	23	40
Born Free Limited	Workspace 2000St. Margaret'sIndustrial EstateDublin 11	Staffing	12	12
Fingal ICTU Centre for the Unemployed	Unit 7 Main StreetDublin 11	Staffing and Capital	46	46
Finglas Childcare Centre	5c Main StreetFinglas VillageDublin 11	Staffing	26	36
Finglas CommunityPlaygroupAssoc.	15 Cappagh DriveFinglas WestDublin 11	Capital	200	200
St. Joseph's Training Centre	Barry RoadFinglasDublin 11	Staffing	20	22
St. Finbar's Playschool	Kilkieran RoadCabraDublin 7	Staffing	48	60
Ballymun East CommunityCentre	c/o 2 Shangan GreenSantry AvenueDublin 9	Staffing	80	100
Community and FamilyTraining Agency Ltd	27 Shangan RoadBallymunDublin 9	Staffing	15 sessional	15 full time
Tobar Na Feile	Coultry RoadBallymunDublin 9	Staffing	0	32

Details of funding prior to the National Development Plan are listed in Table 2 below.

Table 2

Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 1998-1999

Dublin North West Constituency

Group Name	Address	Grant Type
Ballymun Women's Resource Centre	2, 10, 11 Sillogue RoadBallymunDublin	Capital
Ballymun Women's Resource Centre	2, 10, 11 Sillogue RoadBallymunDublin	Training and Development
Ballymun Partnership	North MallBallymun Town CentreDublin 11	Training, Development and Employment of Childcare Co-ordinator
Fingal ICTU Centre For The Unemployed	Unit 7, Main StreetFinglasDublin 11	Capital
Fingal ICTU Centre For The Unemployed	Unit 7, Main StreetFinglasDublin 11	Community Support
Fingal ICTU Centre For The Unemployed	Unit 7, Main StreetFinglasDublin 11	Training and Development
Finglas Childcare Centre	1/2A Church StreetFinglas VillageDublin 11	Capital
Finglas Childcare Centre	1/2A Church StreetFinglas VillageDublin 11	Training and Development
Finglas Community Playgroups Association	Little Sisters of the AssumptionPatrickswell Place,Finglas WestDublin 11	Capital
Group Name	Address	Grant Type
Finglas Community Playgroups Association	Little Sisters of the AssumptionPatrickswell Place,Finglas WestDublin 11	Training and Development
Finglas/Cabra Partnership	Rosehill HouseFinglas RoadDublin 11	Training, Development and Employment of Childcare Development Worker
St Joseph's Training Centre	Barry RoadFinglas WestDublin 11	Capital
St Joseph's Training Centre	Barry RoadFinglas WestDublin 11	Training and Development
Cabra Childcare Support Group	St Finbar's National SchoolKilkieran RoadCabra WestDublin 7	Capital
Cabra Childcare Support Group	St Finbar's National School,Kilkieran RoadCabra WestDublin 7	Training and Development