As the Deputy may be aware, it is open to self-employed and private child care providers, small and large-scale, to apply for a capital grant under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 which is operated by my Department. The grants of up to €50,790 are available for the purchase, building, renovation or upgrading of child care facilities or for the purchase of child care equipment. This strand of the programme was developed in line with the recommendations of the expert working group on child care established under Partnership 2000.
Funding for the programme, through the EU and the Exchequer, was recently increased to €449 million. To date, €218 million in funding has been allocated in capital grant assistance under the programme to child care facilities. Of this, nearly €24.3 million has been allocated to 730 self-employed or private child care providers. It is estimated that this will provide for the creation of 13,270 new child care places and will support 8,250 existing places. I am satisfied that the current grant level is meeting the requirements of self-employed and private child care providers.
In the case of private sector child care provision, these services are operated for profit and are expected to generate income to sustain the enterprise. Funding by state authorities within the EU is restricted in terms of the level of aid that can be provided to private enterprise. This is especially relevant in the case of supports for staffing or running costs in private enterprises.
In addition to the direct funding available under the programme, my colleague, the Minister for Finance, introduced capital allowances for capital expenditure on or after 2 December 1998 on the construction, extension and refurbishment of a building which is used for the purpose of providing a pre-school service or a pre-school service and day care or other service to cater for children other than pre-school children.
I am also aware that employment grants are available through the city and county enterprise boards and I understand that, during the period 1 January 2002 to 30 April 2004, more than €1.3 million has been allocated to 130 child care enterprises. These grants have the potential to create 255 full time and 62 part time jobs in the child care sector. The measures in place reaffirm the Government's commitment to keeping child care at the forefront of its social agenda.