Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
169. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason the Irish Montessori Education Board's montessori schools fared so poorly in the last round of capital funding; the reason IMEB schools are now not eligible for the new round of funding; if she will include IMEB schools for eligibility for the new round of funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17283/13]
View answer1089. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if any final decision has been made in respect of capital funding for Montessori schools for this year and where applicants may apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17243/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 1089 together.
The Childcare Capital Programme 2012, which provided €6 million for remedial, maintenance and renovation work and/or to purchase equipment for early education and childcare services, was implemented by Pobal on behalf of my Department last year.
This capital programme was hugely oversubscribed with almost 90% of applicants being declined. Given the huge number of applications the programme was very competitive and all applications were considered in their own right against the programme criteria. In prioritising applications with similar merits the criteria gave consideration to levels of deprivation in the immediate locality of the service and, to a lesser degree, to whether the applicant received previous capital grant funding that represented a stake meriting protection.
I have been successful in securing €2.75m in capital funding in Budget 2013 to support the ongoing improvement of the childcare sector. Community/not-for-profit and private childcare providers/childminders that are currently providing services under one or more of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs funding programmes - the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme and the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme - are eligible to apply. This includes those services registered with the Irish Montessori Education Board that meet the new programme criteria.
The 2013 funding programme covers four strands: Strand 1 - small grants to purchase equipment or carry out small maintenance work; Strand 2 - grants to improve accessibility of services for children with disabilities; Strand 3 - grants to provide natural outdoor spaces that promote active outdoor play; and Strand 4 - grants towards critical works to ensure that buildings are fit for purpose under the childcare regulations (open to community/not-for-profit services only). It should be noted that in the case of applications for funding under Strand 3, the HSE will be consulted in relation to the proposed works. Applicants who are not required to be notified to the HSE will receive an on-site visit from Pobal or the local City/County Childcare Committee to verify the application and validate the need for the proposed works.
The 2013 Childcare Capital Programme will also be administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department. Full details of the Programme, including instructions on how to apply for a grant, are available on the Pobal website at www.pobal.ie. Applications must be made on-line, and the closing date for applications is Tuesday, 30 April 2013.
