Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004
439 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on an application made for extra capital funding to the EOCP towards the building of a new crèche submitted by a centre (details supplied) in County Cork; and if a decision will be made shortly so that the important development work can proceed. [29343/04]
View answerAn application for further capital grant assistance was submitted by the group in question to Area Development Management Limited on 24 March 2004. The Deputy may be aware that the group has received €236,393 in capital grant assistance and more than €400,600 in staffing supports under the Equal Opportunities Child Care Programme 2000-2006.
The 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 upon 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 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 of more than €120 million and 997 applications for staffing grant assistance totalling €103 million. Almost €45 million has been allocated for projects under the quality measure. 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 being finalised and my Department will write to the applicants in early December. It would be premature to comment further on this capital grant application in the interim.
