Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 25 Mar 2003

Vol. 563 No. 4

Written Answers - Child Care Facilities.

Pat Breen

Question:

588 Mr. P. Breen asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will facilitate applicants with regard to the provision of a crèche in existing housing developments in an area that is already in existence with young children and remove the burden of title on tenant purchased property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7708/03]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Cullen)

National policy on child care is to increase the number of child care places available and to improve the quality of child care services for the community. Guidelines for planning authorities on child care facilities were published in July 2001. The guidelines are designed to assist planning authorities in making suitable provision for child care in their development plans and to ensure a consistency of approach throughout the country to the treatment of planning applications for child care facilities. Responsibility for deciding individual planning applications is, however, entirely a matter for the relevant planning authority, or in the case of an appeal, a matter for An Bord Pleanála. I have no function in the matter.

During 2002, my Department approved the funding of 11 projects involving the provision of child care facilities associated with local authority housing estates and other social housing projects. The funding of these facilities will assist in the provision of some 370 additional child care places. The implementation of the programme, including planning and execution of works, is the responsibility of the local authorities in whose areas the projects are situated. A provision of €2.666 million is included in this year's Estimates for expenditure on the various projects.

As regards the question of title on tenant purchased property, the position is that property purchased under the tenant purchase scheme is sold by way of fee simple, that is, freehold title and no ground rent applies.