Written Answers - Child Care Services.
Michael Ring
Question:
186
Mr. Ring
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the funding which was allocated under the equal opportunities child care programme for the year 2000, giving details for each grant category whether staffing or capital for community-based or not-for-profit groups; the details for the capital grants for private sector child care providers catering for more than 20 children; the amount which was applied for in each category; and the amount which was actually drawn down and paid.
[11193/01]
The funding allocated under the equal opportunities child care programme during 2000 in the grant categories to which the Deputy refers was £21,454,498. In addition, funding totalling more than £8.37 million was allocated in 2000 under the quality improvement measure towards local training models, innovative child care projects and to seven national voluntary child care organisations to develop their child care roles bringing the total allocated in 2000 to £29,824,498. The following table shows the amount allocated and the amount drawn down for each of the categories referred to.
Amount allocated and drawn down up to 31-12-00
|
Funding measure
|
Amount allocated up to 31/12/00£IR
|
Amount drawn down to 31/12/00£IR
|
|
Staffing grant – Community based/Not-for-profit (over three year period)
|
15,310,676
|
680,000
|
|
Capital grant – Community based/Not-for-profit
|
4,317,494
|
66,750
|
|
Capital grant – self employed child care provider catering for not more than 20 children
|
1,627,572
|
272,566
|
|
Capital grant – private sector child care provider catering for more than 20 children
|
198,756
|
0
|
|
Quality Improvement measure including funding to National Voluntary Child care Organisations
|
8,370,000
|
0
|
|
Total
|
29,824,498
|
1,019,316
|
The difference between the amounts committed and the amounts paid out to date reflects, in the case of capital projects, the fact that payments are made in stages as work progresses. In many instances building contractors are unable to commence work on capital projects as soon as had been expected due to other work commitments. In the case of staffing support applications, the difference between the amounts committed and the amounts paid out to date reflects the fact that the grants are allocated over a three year period and the requirements placed on groups in relation to recruitment procedures.
The capital grant scheme for private sector child care providers catering for more than 20 children was announced only in October 2000. Up to the end of December 2000, 18 capital projects were under consideration under this measure. At year end, six of these capital projects had been approved funding totalling £198,756 but none of these projects had drawn down funds. A further nine of these capital projects have been approved since bringing the total allocation for these 15 projects to £435,630. Up to 30 March 2001, fund ing of £100,364 had been drawn down under this measure.
The Deputy has asked for details of the amount applied for in each category but I am not in a position to provide meaningful information on this. The amount sought obviously varies depending on the nature of service being provided. Our experience is that the amount applied for may not accurately reflect the needs of the applicant and, in some cases, as part of the appraisal process, the original figure may be revised upwards. In these circumstances to provide the information requested may be confusing in terms of the approvals granted.
Under the staffing grant scheme for community based/not-for-profit child care providers, the normal maximum funding available to full-time child care services is £50,000 per annum for up to a three year period or £25,000 for part-time or sessional services.
In general, in terms of capital projects, funding is available towards the purchase, improvement or construction of an asset as well as the purchase of permanently based child care equipment. However, ongoing running costs, staff costs and consumables are not eligible expenditure under this measure. Work on the project, that is, construction work, must commence within one year of the date of the grant approval and must be completed within three years of the approval of the grant.
The capital grant measure for small scale private child care providers and the capital grant scheme for private sector child care providers catering for more than 20 children are, in essence, the same. Under these measures, the maximum funding available per project is £40,000 and applicants must have secured a minimum private financial contribution of 35% of the cost of the project.
There is no upper limit on the level of funding available under the capital grant scheme for community-based/not-for-profit group(s). Projects in this category are assessed in terms of the overall criteria of the equal opportunities child care programme which include the quality of the proposal, the number of child care places created or sustained and the level of disadvantage in the area concerned.
