Vol. 404 No. 1
117 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Labour if, in the light of the NOW initiative which allows the EC Commission support (1) the provision of childcare facilities, (2) the operating costs of childcare facilities relating to vocational training centres and (3) vocational training for childcare workers, he will outline the number of submissions being made for funding as a result of this initiative.
The NOW initiative will be approved on 19 December by the European Commission and publication will take place immediately afterwards in the Official Journal. Accordingly, submissions for funding would be premature at this stage. The main training and education agencies have however been advised of the existence of the draft initiative and initial submissions have been sought from them.
One of the assignments given to the task force on child care for working parents which I recently established, is to develop demonstration projects having regard to the potential availability of EC funds under the NOW programme.
