Vol. 562 No. 6
140 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the grant application from a crèche (details supplied) in Dublin 17 for a child care grant will be finalised to prevent its immediate closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6824/03]
I am aware that a crèche in Dublin 17 has submitted an application for additional funding towards its staffing costs. In 2000, this crèche was awarded grant assistance towards its staffing costs of € 304,737 over three years under the equal opportunities child care programme. About a third of this sum is drawn down each year. This is the maximum amount normally made available towards the staffing costs of groups targeting disadvantage under the programme. It was envisaged that this amount would address its needs until end 2003.
Further provision was made towards the staffing costs of a new after school child care service in June 2001 when a further staffing grant of €114,276 was allocated to this crèche, again to cover three years and running to mid 2004. As a result, this service is currently receiving annual support of €139,761 from the equal opportunities child care programme towards its staffing costs. I understand that it also receives considerable support from the local health board.
I am also aware that the crèche has submitted a request for additional grant assistance towards its staffing costs. I understand that this application is currently under appraisal. Among the issues to be addressed in such appraisals are the capacity of the facility; the number of children availing of the facility and their hours of attendance; the number of staff involved in the delivery of the service; the ratio of staff to children; and the economic capacity of the client group to contribute to the operating cost of the service through fees.
