Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2004
234 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application (details supplied) for a group in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28296/04]
View answerI understand that a capital grant application for more than €750,000 was submitted by the group to my Department some time ago. The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000 — 2006 is a seven year development programme which aims to increase the availability and quality of child care to support parents in employment, education and training. The progress of the programme was commented upon very favourably by the mid-term evaluators of both the regional operational programmes and the National Development Plan 2000 — 2006 and, following the mid-term review, additional funding of approximately €12 million was made available for the child care measures. This brings the total funding available for the programme to €449.3 million. This now includes an increased provision for capital developments for which €157 million has been set aside.
Since 2000, my Department, with the technical assistance of ADM Limited, has processed and I have approved 1,253 applications for capital grant assistance amounting to more than €120 million and 997 applications for staffing grant assistance totalling €103 million. Almost €45 million has been allocated for quality projects. Much of the remaining current funding is required for ongoing supports to groups providing child care services to disadvantaged families to enable them to participate in employment, education and training opportunities.
A list of outstanding capital applications is now being finalised and my Department will be writing to the applicants in early December. In the interim, it would be premature to comment further on this capital grant application.
