Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 December 2004
278 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision on the application for grant assistance for a capital project by a centre (details supplied) in County Monaghan will be determined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32440/04]
View answerHaving made inquiries, I understand an application for capital grant assistance under the equal opportunities child care programme was submitted by the group in question to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in December 2003. The Deputy may be aware that the group has been approved €211,660 in staffing grant assistance under the programme.
The programme in question is a seven-year development programme, aimed at increasing the availability and quality of child care and supporting 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. Additional funding of some €12 million was made available for the child care measures following the mid-term review, bringing the total funding available for the programme to €449.3 million, including an increased provision of €157 million for capital developments.
With the technical assistance of ADM Limited, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has processed and I have approved 1,271 applications for capital grant assistance of more than €118 million, as well as 1,015 applications for staffing grant assistance of €104 million, since 2000. 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. The provision of an additional capital allocation of €90 million over five years for the development of child care facilities was made in the context of the recent budget. Therefore, I expect to be in a position to make an announcement on the allocation of the first tranche of funding in the next week or so, after which the Department will write to all applicants for capital grant assistance. In the interim, it would be premature of me to comment further on this capital grant application.
