Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
1138 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the serious financial difficulties being experienced by the Donegal County Childcare Committee Limited; and if, in view of the excellent work it is engaged in throughout the county he will make additional funding available to enable it to continue its work. [22550/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has been given responsibility for the co-ordination of child care service delivery during the period of the national development plan, between 2000 and 2006. The equal opportunities child care programme was established by my Department in April 2000 as a seven-year programme to increase the number of child care facilities and places in Ireland; to improve the quality of child care services and to put new structures in place for the co-ordination of activity in the development of child care. The total funding allocated to my Department for these purposes during the seven-year period of the programme has now increased to €449.3 million.
Funding provision for the quality measure which includes the administration of the city and county child care committees has increased significantly. Over €7 million is available annually for the implementation of the action plans drawn up by the city and county child care committees. The committees receive additional funding for the national childminding initiative and will also be invited shortly to submit proposals for collaborative actions with other committees and the national voluntary child care organisations.
Donegal County Childcare Committee is one of the 33 city or county childcare committees that were established as part of the equal opportunities child care programme. Donegal County Childcare Committee has received funding of €894,514 since the start of the programme. In 2004, Donegal County Childcare Committee received its maximum funding allowance of €241,500 for its action plan. In light of the excellent work being carried out by all 33 county child care committees, I have already indicated to them that the maximum funding available to them in 2005 will be increased by 5%. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is reviewing all the budget lines under the quality sub-measure of the programme to determine whether any small additional increase in funding can be provided in the coming year.
