Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004
327 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if a full child care facility will be established in the vicinity of Loughlinstown to cater for the growing young population of the area. [13220/04]
View answerMy Department is responsible for encouraging the development of child care to meet the needs of parents in employment, education or training. Funding under the national development plan of €448 million has been provided by both the Exchequer and the European Union, through the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006.
As the Deputy may be aware, while the Government actively makes supports available for the development of child care and for its delivery in areas of disadvantage, it is not directly involved in the provision of child care. The equal opportunities child care 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 and to enhance the quality of existing places. It offers staffing grants to community based-not for profit organisations which have a focus on disadvantaged families. It is open to community based not-for-profit groups and to private child care providers to apply for funding under the programme and all applications will be considered in the light of the available funding and in keeping with the criteria of the programme.
The Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown county child care committee is actively involved in promoting the development of child care by community groups to meet local need within its area.
