Vol. 576 No. 6
248 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to the abolition of the crèche supplement for parents of children attending day nurseries which are part funded by the health boards, the steps he is taking to provide funding from his Department's child care fund to ensure that these children can continue to avail of this vital service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30531/03]
The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 makes grant supports available directly to child care facilities towards the provision of child care places which support the child care needs of parents who are in employment, training or education. The programme is partly funded by the European Social Fund which aims, inter alia, to increase prosperity throughout the European Union by encouraging full employment and female labour force participation. It is open to any child care facility which meets the equal opportunities child care programme criteria to seek grant support under the programme.
