Vol. 574 No. 1
458 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the level of funding allocated to each child care provider in the Finglas-Cabra and Ballymun partnership areas under capital, staffing, training and other headings for each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26252/03]
The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-06 has been established to support the development of quality, affordable and accessible child care to meet the needs of parents who wish to remain, or return to the labour force or to undertake training or education to enhance their employment opportunities. The programme which is funded by both the Exchequer and the European Union has a total budget of €437 million to distribute over the life of the national development plan.
It is not possible to identify projects in specific partnership areas. Since the programme launch in 2000, and including commitments made to 31 October 2003, over €5.4 million in capital and staffing grants has been committed to child care services in Dublin 7, 9, and 11 which would include Finglas-Cabra and Ballymun. As the list is lengthy, I will send it on to the Deputy.
In addition, it is open to all child care practitioners, including those in the areas mentioned, to avail of training, networking and other quality enhancing activities organised nationally and locally by the city-county child care committees and the national voluntary child care organisations.
