Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004
400 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when child care grant assistance will be awarded to a community development (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28905/04]
View answerI understand that an application for further capital grant assistance was submitted by the group in question to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in July 2004. The Deputy may be aware that the group has received over €1.3 million in capital and staffing grant assistance under the equal opportunities child care programme, which 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 on favourably in the mid-term evaluations of the regional operational programmes and the national development plan. Following the mid-term review, additional funding of approximately €12 million was made available for the child care measures, bringing the total funding available for the programme to €449.3 million. The figure includes increased provision for capital developments, for which €157 million has been set aside.
The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, with the technical assistance of ADM Limited and my approval, has approved 1,253 applications for capital grant assistance of over €120 million and 997 applications for staffing grant assistance of €103 million since 2000. Almost €45 million has been allocated for projects under the quality measure. Much of the remaining current funding is required for ongoing support 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 being finalised and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform will write to the applicants in early December. It would be premature of me to comment further on this capital grant application in the interim.
401 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when grant assistance will be awarded for child care to a community group (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28906/04]
View answerI understand that a capital grant application for over €1.9 million was submitted by the group to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform some time ago.
The equal opportunities child care programme 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 on favourably in the mid-term evaluations of the regional operational programmes and the national development plan. Following the mid-term review, additional funding of approximately €12 million was made available for the child care measures, bringing the total funding available for the programme to €449.3 million. The figure includes increased provision for capital developments, for which €157 million has been set aside.
The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, with the technical assistance of ADM Limited and my approval, has approved 1,253 applications for capital grant assistance of over €120 million and 997 applications for staffing grant assistance of €103 million since 2000. Almost €45 million has been allocated for projects under the quality measure. Much of the remaining current funding is required for ongoing support to groups providing child care services to disadvantaged families to enable them to participate in employment, education and training opportunities.
The Deputy may be aware that the group in question has received a total of over €132,500 in capital and staffing grant assistance under the programme. A list of outstanding capital applications is being finalised and the Department will write to the applicants in early December. It would be premature of me to comment further on this capital grant application in the interim.
