Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 December 2004
211 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on an application by a centre (details supplied) in County Waterford for funding to furnish its state of the art child care facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31832/04]
View answerI understand from inquiries I have made that an application for capital grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 was submitted by the group to my Department in March 2004. The Deputy may be aware that the group in question has already been approved €151,734 in staffing grant assistance from the programme. The EOCP 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 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 1,271 applications for capital grant assistance of more than €118 million and 1,015 applications for staffing grant assistance totalling €104 million. Almost €44 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 now being finalised and my Department will be writing to the applicants in early December. In the interim, it would be premature of me to comment further on this capital grant application.
