Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 6

Written Answers. - Equal Opportunities Child Care Programme.

Dan Boyle

Question:

294 Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans which exist to mainstream funding for recognised child care centres and move away from the uncertainty of three yearly renewable contracts. [17189/03]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell):

I assume the Deputy is referring to the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) launched by my Department in April 2000. The EOCP is a seven year programme with the principal aims of increasing the number of child care facilities and places, enhancing the quality of child care services and to introduce a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of child care services. The total funding allocated to my Department for these purposes during the seven year period of the programme is €437 million, including €317.4 million provided under the national development plan, co-funded by the European Union.

The equal opportunities child care programme has an equal opportunities and social inclusion perspective and facilitates the further development and expansion of child care facilities to address the needs of men and women in reconciling their child care needs with their participation in employment, training and education.

The programme provides capital grant assistance to community-not for profit organisations and to private child care providers to increase the supply of child care places or enhance the quality of existing places. It offers staffing grants to community based-not for profit organisations which have a focus on disadvantaged families and offers supports to the national voluntary child care organisations and to other groups working to improve the quality of child care in Ireland.

The equal opportunities child care programme is making a real difference. Since the availability of funding under the equal opportunities child care programme was formally announced in April 2000, funding of nearly €172 million has been committed to more than 1,633 child care projects on the ground, both in the community and private sectors. It is estimated that, on completion of these projects, more than 46,800 child care places will be supported by this funding including the creation of more than 23,000 new child care places. The funding will also enable many of the services extend their hours of operation and enhance the quality of the child care provided.

In addition, funding of more than €25 million has been approved for quality improvement projects such as the county child care committees, the national voluntary child care organisations and innovative projects.

Each application for funding towards staffing costs is appraised separately, and on its own merits, against a range of criteria specified under the programme. The criteria include,inter alia, the scope of the project, the socio-demographic profile of the area, the quality of the proposal, the capacity of the group to implement the project, the level of integration of the project with other facilities in the area and the value for money which the project represents. All applications are assessed initially by Area Development Management Limited, which works in partnership with my Department. Following the ADM assessment, each application is considered by a programme appraisal committee, chaired by my Department, which makes a final recommendation to me. Support towards staffing costs is only made available to community based projects that clearly demonstrate that they are addressing the child care needs of disadvantaged families, assisting parents who are in employment or partaking in education or training opportunities.

I am sure the Deputy will agree the financial assistance towards staffing made available under the programme must be targeted at those services that have a clear focus on meeting the child care needs of disadvantaged families. As the EOCP is very much a developmental programme it is necessary to constantly monitor the outcomes and impacts of the funding allocated and it is for this reason staffing grants are generally allocated on a fixed term contract basis.