Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 1

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Paul McGrath

Question:

365 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the grant aid paid and the projects supported to provide child care services in County Westmeath in each of the years 1998, 1999, 2000 and to date in 2001. [18666/01]

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

Under my Department's equal opportunities child care programme for 1998-99, I approved funding totalling £223,000 to five child care groups in County Westmeath. Details of the projects funded are given in Table 1.

Table 1: Equal Opportunities Child care

Programme 1998-1999

Child Care Group	Grant Type	Amount Paid
Kilbeggan Community Playgroup	CapitalTraining	IR£6,000IR£5,000
Women's Community Projects (Mullingar)	CapitalStaffingTraining	IR£20,000IR£80,000IR£27,000
Athlone Community Taskforce	CapitalTraining	IR£6,000IR£29,000
Westmeath Community Development (Mullingar)	Training	IR£30,000
Ennell Community House	CapitalTraining	IR£13,000IR£7,000

The Deputy will be aware that the current equal opportunities child care programme for the period 2000-06 was launched in April 2000. The funding committed by my Department so far under the equal opportunities child care programme to eight child care providers or child care groups in County Westmeath is £614,584. More than 60 new child care places will be created and the retention of more than 470 existing places in County Westmeath will be assured as a result of this funding. This funding will also lead to improvements in quality and, in some cases, allow child care providers extend their opening hours. Details of these child care providers or child care groups are outlined in Table 2.

Table 2: Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006

Child Care Group	Grant Type	Amount Approved	Amount Drawndown to date
Killucan Care Ltd. (K.I.D.S.)	Staffing – Community based/ not for profit groups (over 3 years)	IR£150,000	IR£20,000
Anne Egan (Moate)	Capital – Self-employed Childcare Providers catering for less than 20 children	IR£26,605	IR£7,982
Little Angels (Athlone)	Capital – Self-employed Childcare Providers catering for less than 20 children	IR£2,600	IR£0
Women's Community Projects (Mullingar) Association	Staffing – Community based/ not for profit groups (over 3 years)	IR£240,000	IR£40,000
Tiny Tots Playgroup (Lismacaffrey)	Staffing – Community based/ not for profit groups (over 3 years)	IR£46,972	IR£20,000
Ballymore, Boher, Moyvoughley & Killare Muintir Community Council	Staffing – Community based/not for profit groups (over 3 years)	IR£39,186	IR£20,000
Little Angels Crèche & Playgroup (Castlepollard)	Capital – Private Childcare Providers catering for more than 20 children	IR£40,000	IR£0
Harmony Community Development Programme (Athlone)	Capital – School Age Childcare	IR£69,221	IR£0

The Deputy should note that, in the case of capital grant applications, the difference between the amounts committed and the amounts paid out reflects the fact that payments are made in stages as work progresses. In many cases, building contractors are unable to begin work on projects as soon as had been expected due to other work commitments. In the case of staffing support applications to community based/not-for-profit groups, the difference between the amounts committed and the amounts drawn down reflects the fact that the grants are allocated over a three year period and the requirements placed on groups in relation to recruitment procedures.