Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Child Care Provisions.

Jerry Cowley

Ceist:

1324 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding the appeal for additional funding towards the running of the playgroup in Mulranny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15401/02]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. McDowell):

As the Deputy is aware, my Department has been given overall responsibility for the development and co-ordination of child care services over the course of the National Development Plan, 2000-2006. In this regard, the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, which was established in April, 2000, has been developed with the objective of significantly increasing the number of child care places and improving the quality of child care services over the period of the NDP.

Each application and project proposal is appraised separately and on its own merits against a range of criteria specified under the programme which includes, inter alia, the scope of the project, the socio-demographic profile of the area, the quality of the proposal, the capacity of the group to implement the project, the level of integration of the project with other facilities in the area and the value for money which the project represents. This technical appraisal is carried out by Area Development Management Limited on my Department's behalf. On the basis of that assessment, the programme appraisal committee makes a recommendation to me with regard to the appropriate level of funding for each project and to any conditions which might be attached to that funding. The primary focus of the scheme of support for staffing costs is to assist projects which are located in areas of significant disadvan tage or to support child care services which have a particular focus on disadvantage which would include rural isolation.

With regard to the playgroup referred to by the Deputy, I have been informed by the child care directorate of my Department that an application was received in October 2001 from the playgroup for a staffing grant. This application underwent the usual assessment and appraisal process. My predecessor, Deputy O'Donoghue, on the recommendation of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme appraisal committee, was in a position to approve funding of €38,000 as a contribution towards staffing costs for child care workers working directly with the children of the service. The programme appraisal committee were of the view that this amount was appropriate in view of the level of service provided and the number of children catered for. The playgroup were also allocated capital funding of €39,362 in 1999 towards construction costs.

I have also been informed that an appeal in relation to the decision regarding the staff funding award of €38,000 was lodged with my Department by the playgroup on 7 May 2002. The application was reassessed by Area Development Management Limited and resubmitted to the programme appraisal committee. On the basis of the information available the committee did not recommend any increase in the original allocation of €38,000 and I was not in a position to vary the original decision.