Seán Ardagh
Question:185 Mr. Ardagh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of funding applications submitted to the EOCP process for projects (details supplied). [32873/04]
View answerThursday, 9 December 2004
Questions (188)
Written answers
Applications for capital grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP, 2000 — 2006 were submitted by the groups in question to my Department some time ago.
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 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 1,271 applications for capital grant assistance of over €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.
The provision of an additional capital allocation totalling €90 million over five years for the development of child care facilities was made in the context of the recent budget. As a result, I will make an announcement in connection with the allocation of the first tranche of that funding very shortly, following which my Department will write to all applicants for capital grant assistance. In the interim, it would be premature of me to comment further on these capital grant applications.