Vol. 534 No. 3
77 Mr. McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications for employment grants for the provision of child care in each county in the context of the budget 2001 announcement; the number approved; the amounts approved; and the amounts paid out to date. [10819/01]
On 2 April 2001, I announced, in the context of the 2001 Estimates, a labour market support package which included a number of initiatives in the area of child care. These initiatives, which will be implemented by FÁS, include a £50 per week per child allowance for people seeking training to help them back into the workplace; the development of an introductory training course in child care for lone parents which will offer progression opportunities towards certified traineeship in childcare, and; a fund which will be available to FÁS to encourage child care providers to release personnel for certified training.
Total expenditure on these new initiatives in 2001, is estimated at £4.28 million. FÁS is currently finalising details of these programmes with a view to early implementation. Accordingly, FÁS is not yet in a position to furnish a breakdown of applications by county.
In addition, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has responsibility for the £250 million funding under the national development plan for the equal opportunities child care programme. Questions regarding the administration of those funds should be addressed to my colleague, the Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform, Deputy O'Donoghue.
