John Cregan
Ceist:182 Mr. Cregan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding plans and funding for a proposed new child care facility (details supplied). [12439/03]
Written Answers. - Child Care Services.
An application for funding was first received from this group in July 2001. The group received a feasibility grant to enable them to further develop their proposal and a major application for grant assistance was subsequently received from the group. This proposal for an integrated child care service sought very significant funding under the three measures of the equal opportunities child care programme, namely, capital, staffing and development and training.
All applications for grant assistance undergo a thorough assessment and appraisal process by ADM Limited on my behalf to ensure they meet the objectives of the equal opportunities child care programme 2000-06. As is the case with all large-scale capital applications, the project was referred by ADM Limited for an external evaluation by a building specialist. This project was appraised by an external evaluator and was submitted to the programme appraisal committee.
Given the scale of the proposal, a number of issues arose at the programme appraisal committee as a result of which a final decision was deferred pending clarification of a number of points with the project developers. It was decided that the project developers would be consulted further prior to the programme appraisal committee taking a final decision on the proposal. The proposal will be reviewed again by the programme appraisal committee in the light of any revisions which may be made by the proposers.