Vol. 547 No. 1
912 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will increase the staffing grant to a company (details supplied) under the EU equal opportunities childcare programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2923/02]
990 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make sufficient funding available through the staffing grant to the Tralee community development project, County Kerry. [2072/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 912 and 990 together.
As the Deputy is aware, capital and staffing grant schemes for community based/not-for-profit groups are part of the Government child care funding initiatives administered under my Department's equal opportunities childcare programme, 2000 to 2006, aimed principally at meeting the child care needs of children whose parents are in education, training or employment.
In May 2001, I approved a staffing grant of 133,322, £105,000, for this project, over a three year period. This grant award was made by me following the transfer of responsibility for out-of-school hours child care services from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs to my Department early last year. This scheme was subsumed into the equal opportunities childcare programme. I understand that so far approximately 19,000, £15,000, of this staffing grant allocation has been drawn down by the project.
My Department received a further application for staffing funding in June 2001 and, as a result, in November 2001, I approved a further 57,138, £45,000, towards the child care staffing costs of the project, bringing the total allocation to 190,461, £150,000, which is normally the upper limit for staffing grants.
