Vol. 534 No. 2
129 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals there are to expand the employment support measure operated by county enterprise boards to self-employed child care providers; if there are other proposals to support staffing costs for self-employed child care providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10322/01]
As the Deputy may be aware, my Department has been given responsi bility for leading the development of child care service provision over the course of the National Development Plan 2000-2006.
In October 2000, I announced details of the Government's £40 million anti-inflationary package for child care which included a £1 million allocation to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for the provision of employment grants of up to £5,000, through the city or county enterprise boards, to private child care providers who take on a new child care worker. This funding measure has been in operation by the 35 city and county enterprise boards throughout the country since early 2001. I have been advised by the Tànaiste, and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, that information to hand indicates that £101,975 in grant aid has been approved to 18 child care providers by ten enterprise boards throughout the country. These grants have the potential to create 35 full-time and three part-time jobs.
Apart from the £1 million allocation as part of the anti-inflationary package for child care during 2000 under the two regional operational programmes operated by the 35 city and county enterprise boards, £368,022 in grant aid both capital and employment grants was approved for 48 grants to child care providers by 20 enterprise boards. These grants have the potential to create 104 full-time and ten part-time jobs.
While there is no staffing grant scheme for private child care providers under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme operated by my Department, such providers may apply under the programme for capital grants of up £40,000 to establish or expand a child care facility. To date, capital grants totalling £2.6 million have been approved for 113 private child care providers. Furthermore, child care providers may be able to avail of a capital allowance, which can be used to write off for tax purposes the costs of constructing, refurbishing or extending premises for use as a child care facility.
There are no plans at this stage to provide additional supports for private child care providers.
