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Child Care Services.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2004

Thursday, 8 July 2004

Ceisteanna (307, 308)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

307 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if consideration will be given to the provision of additional financial assistance to private child care providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21198/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy may be aware, it is open to self-employed and private child care providers, small and large-scale, to apply for a capital grant under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 which is operated by my Department. The grants of up to €50,790 are available for the purchase, building, renovation or upgrading of child care facilities or for the purchase of child care equipment. This strand of the programme was developed in line with the recommendations of the expert working group on child care established under Partnership 2000.

Funding for the programme, through the EU and the Exchequer, was recently increased to €449 million. To date, €218 million in funding has been allocated in capital grant assistance under the programme to child care facilities. Of this, nearly €24.3 million has been allocated to 730 self-employed or private child care providers. It is estimated that this will provide for the creation of 13,270 new child care places and will support 8,250 existing places. I am satisfied that the current grant level is meeting the requirements of self-employed and private child care providers.

In the case of private sector child care provision, these services are operated for profit and are expected to generate income to sustain the enterprise. Funding by state authorities within the EU is restricted in terms of the level of aid that can be provided to private enterprise. This is especially relevant in the case of supports for staffing or running costs in private enterprises.

In addition to the direct funding available under the programme, my colleague, the Minister for Finance, introduced capital allowances for capital expenditure on or after 2 December 1998 on the construction, extension and refurbishment of a building which is used for the purpose of providing a pre-school service or a pre-school service and day care or other service to cater for children other than pre-school children.

I am also aware that employment grants are available through the city and county enterprise boards and I understand that, during the period 1 January 2002 to 30 April 2004, more than €1.3 million has been allocated to 130 child care enterprises. These grants have the potential to create 255 full time and 62 part time jobs in the child care sector. The measures in place reaffirm the Government's commitment to keeping child care at the forefront of its social agenda.

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

308 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the projects approved to date in County Cavan and County Monaghan under the various schemes of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-06; the level of funding provided for each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21202/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The total funding committed for projects under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 for counties Cavan and Monaghan amounts to €4,936,758 and €7,306,703, respectively. Sixty nine child care grants in Cavan were approved funding under the programme and includes the following. Fifteen capital grant applications from community-based or not-for-profit groups were approved for funding and a total of €1,542,458 has been committed; 14 capital grant applications from private providers and the self-employed were approved for funding and more than €442,703 has been committed; and 28 staffing grant applications from community-based or not-for-profit groups were approved for funding and more than €2,230,142 has been committed. Funding to Cavan county child care committee was approved to enable it to carry out its day to day activities and to deliver on its strategic action plans, including the implementation of the childminders' initiative. The total amount of funding approved to date is €638,922. A local child care network was awarded €82,533.

In County Monaghan, 60 child care grants have been approved funding under the programme to date and they are as follows. Twelve capital grant applications from community-based groups were approved for funding and a total of €3,364,766 has been committed; seven capital grant applications from private providers and the self-employed were approved and more than €159,988 has been committed; 27 staffing grant applications from community-based and not-for-profit groups have been approved for funding and €2,217,664 has been committed; a local network covering the Border counties was approved €914,482; Monaghan county child care committee was approved a total of €649,801 towards the implementation of its action plans together with funding towards development grants and the childminders' initiative.

My Department has completed a comprehensive document which gives the key information sought by the Deputy, that is, project type and level of grant assistance approved in each child care service. I will arrange for a copy of the document to be lodged in the Oireachtas Library in due course.

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