Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
1477. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to introduce another round of capital grants for crèches, preschools and child care facilities in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38224/12]
View answerIn Budget 2012, the Government announced capital funding of €6m to fund a maintenance programme for childcare facilities. The aim of the funding is to provide support to childcare settings to address remedial, maintenance and renovation work, or to purchase equipment. Following a robust appraisal and review process, 295 applications have been approved for funding. The successful applications were those that represented the most complete, coherent, precise and compelling cases for funding. It is not possible, prior to the conclusion of the Estimates and Budgetary Process for 2013, to determine whether capital funding will be made available to my Department under December's Budget.
