Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 May 2004
162 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason four applications for large scale capital funding, lodged with the equal opportunity child care programme, have waited for a response since 2000. [13965/04]
View answerI am not aware of capital projects awaiting a decision since 2000 other than in circumstances where an applicant requested them to be placed on hold pending the clarification of a specific issue. A number of projects submitted more recently have waiting for a thorough review of the programme to be completed. Its aim is to maximise the availability of capital under the present programme. Perhaps the Deputy is referring to projects in this group.
The Equal Opportunities Child Care Programme 2000-2006 is a seven year development programme. Its progress was commented upon favourably by the mid-term evaluators of the regional operational programmes and the National Development Plan 2000-2006. Expenditure under the programme covers the period to end 2007. Spending must take place in a planned manner, as must grant approvals, to ensure that it meets its financial commitments at all times.
There has been considerable demand from community based groups for capital grant assistance under the programme. Every county has benefited from significant grant commitments to provide new and enhanced community based child care facilities. Capital developments in the private child care sector have also been supported. Area Development Management Limited, on behalf of my Department, is carrying out an extensive review of the programme's capital commitments to date, numbering over 1,100 and valued at €114 million, to ensure that grant commitments previously entered into will be realised. Projects may be awaiting planning permission or the completion of tender processes before reasonable assurance can be taken that they will proceed. If they do not the funding can be made available to another project.
Recently my Department reviewed the different budget lines under the EOCP, including the capital programme, to ensure that the most effective use is made of all remaining funding in accordance with its objectives. Some transfers between measures were recommended and require the approval of the regional assemblies. I expect that the technical process will be completed shortly and that it will increase the total allocation to €157 million for the capital development of child care under the present EOCP. It includes an element for the administration by ADM Limited of the capital programme. At the same time an extensive review of child care provision took place to identify obvious service gaps. At present the remaining capital funding amounts to about €35 million and it will be used to fill the gaps in service.
I intend to allocate the remaining capital funding under this strand of the Government's commitments to child care to address the most immediate service gaps. As a result all of the projects in the pipeline are being reviewed again by ADM Limited on the basis of geographical need, the range of services being offered and the capacity of the groups to complete a project before the end of the programme. The projects that best meet the criteria will be prioritised. The review process will be repeated as necessary to maximise the benefits deriving from this phase of the EOCP.
ADM Limited was engaged by my Department to carry out assessments, against the programme criteria, of all applications for grant assistance. It undertook the day-to-day administration of programme. All large scale capital projects are referred by the company to an independent external building specialist to assess suitability and if they are value for money. On completion of the assessment process, applications are considered by the programme's appraisal committee, chaired by my Department. I make the final decision after the committee recommends funding.
The current review of applications will be concluded as speedily as possible to facilitate the development of additional child care places and to ensure that the funding is drawn down before the end of 2007 in the planned manner I mentioned earlier.
I do not doubt that the success of the present strand of the EOCP and the need to continue to make child care available to support the needs of our growing workforce will support my case for ongoing capital and current funding from Government. I expect that the programme would again benefit from transfers if additional funding became available before the end of the present national development plan.
163 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Lenihan, will meet persons (details supplied) to discuss the child care crisis in Ballyfermot. [13966/04]
View answerI forwarded the details to the Minister of State for his attention and consideration.
The Equal Opportunities Child Care Programme 2000-2006 has allocated almost €2.8 million to a number of projects in the Ballyfermot-Cherry Orchard area. As many as 249 new child care places will be created and support given to 121 existing places when the amount is fully drawn down. Surrounding areas have also received substantial funding. Applications for substantial capital and staffing grants were received from a number of large scale capital projects in Dublin 10.
A major review of the community based capital child care programme is under way. Its aim is to determine which projects should be prioritised for funding under the present strand of capital funding, of which about €30 million remains. As a result the applications from the Ballyfermot area are being reviewed comparatively against other projects. The applications will be prioritised according to the programme's criteria and whether they can be completed before the end of 2007. The national comparative analysis is based on a thorough review of current service provision in the immediate area of each application and a review of the services proposed by each of the current applicant groups.
