As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Childcare Investment Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. Capital grant assistance is available to both community based/not for profit organisations and private sector child care providers to build, renovate, or equip child care services where a proposal meets with the programme objectives. In areas of significant disadvantage staffing grants are available to community based groups providing child care services which meet the needs of disadvantaged parents. To benefit from staffing funding, groups must pay particular attention to supporting disadvantaged families and to the implementation of a fee policy tailored to the differing economic circumstances of their client group, thereby ensuring that child care places are targeted at those most in need.
I understand from enquiries I have made that the Group in question was provisionally approved €100,000 over 16 months in staffing grant assistance under the EOCP in August of this year. This funding is approved subject to the Group concluding a satisfactory contractual agreement by the end of 2006 with Pobal, which is engaged to administer the grants on behalf of the Office of the Minister for Children. I also understand that, to date, the Group has not submitted any further formal requests for funding under the EOCP or the NCIP.