The equal opportunities childcare programme, which is the responsibility of my Department, provides a budget for the two year period 1998-99 to support the development of child care facilities. The programme is designed primarily to support local communities who are helping parents who have child care responsibilities to access employment, education and training opportunities. It is targeted primarily at community based projects in disadvantaged areas but also has an equal opportunities dimension to assist women and men generally to meet their child care needs.
The equal opportunities childcare programme is part-funded by the EU and has a budget of approximately £6 million, over £4 million Exchequer and £2 million EU funding, for the period 1998-99. The equal opportunities childcare programme is administered by Area Development Management Limited on behalf of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.