Details of the capital resource allocations made available to my Department in 2012 and related fund disbursements over the period January — May are set out in the following table:
Subhead
|
Title
|
Estimate Allocation €000
|
Amount paid to date €000
|
Balance to drawdown €000
|
A.7
|
Youth Justice — Children’s Detention Centres
|
350
|
9
|
341
|
B.4
|
Childcare Programmes
|
6,500
|
0
|
6,500
|
B.5
|
Youth Organisations and Services (part funded by the National lottery)
|
1,500
|
0
|
1,500
|
Total
|
|
8,350
|
9
|
8,341
|
Particulars relating to the funding provisions under each Subhead are as follows:
Youth Justice — Children's Detention Centres
A sum of €350,000 has been made available to the Irish Youth Justice Service for 2012 to fund capital projects within the Children Detention Schools, in a series of improvements to fire safety measures. It is expected that the capital commitment will be fully expended before the year end.
In addition to this, funding for a capital project to construct children detention facilities of €50 m approximately was announced in April 2012 and it is expected that this will be spent over the period to 2015.
Childcare Programmes
Capital funding of €6 million has been made available in 2012 to fund a maintenance programme for childcare facilities. The maximum grant available to individual services under the programme is €50,000 (including VAT). The programme is being administered on behalf of my Department by Pobal. The appraisal process has been completed and recommendations have been made to the Department. Successful applicants will be notified shortly. Subsequent arrangements regarding contract, payment, reporting and audit will be dealt with by Pobal on behalf of my Department. This capital funding is specific to 2012, and the funding must be spent within this year.
In addition, capital funding of €500,000 has been provided in 2012 for grants under the Parent and Toddler Initiative and the Childminder Development Grant Scheme. Under the Parent and Toddler Initiative, an amount of €250,000 has been provided to support grants to parent and toddler groups with a particular focus on disadvantaged areas. This initiative is administered by the City and County Childcare Committees. A sum of €250,000 has also been provided for the Childminder Development Grant Scheme under which capital grants of up to €1,000 can be applied for to purchase safety equipment or toys or to make minor adjustments to the childminder's home in order to establish or enhance a childminding service. This funding is also administered by the City and County Childcare Committees.
Youth Organisations and Services
As part of the Government's Capital Review published in November 2011, capital funding of €1.5 million has been secured for youth projects in 2012. It is anticipated that a significant portion of this funding will be specifically allocated to youth cafés. My Department is currently examining options for the most effective distribution of this funding and an announcement will be made in due course in relation to how the funds will be distributed. The priority will be to ensure that the maximum impact and cost effectiveness is achieved.