I wish to advise the Deputy that, as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 — 2010 (NCIP) which is implemented by my Office. As the Deputy will be aware, the finalisation of the latest portfolio of capital grant applications, under the NCIP, was delayed pending the introduction of the recent Supplementary Budget. Following decisions in the budget the capital allocation now available for 2009/2010 will be sufficient to meet existing capital grant commitments and will not provide for the approval of any additional grant applications. Pending a decision in this regard, indicative capital budgets in respect of 2009 had not issued to the City and County Childcare Committees.
The new Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme to provide a free-preschool year, which was announced in the Supplementary Budget and which will commence in January 2010, will be funded from resources re-directed from the Early Childcare Supplement (ECS) which is being abolished form the end of this year. This scheme will be open to some 5,000 existing preschool services and is not expected to be affected by the decision regarding additional capital grant applications. Funding amounting to €170 will be allocated to provide for the new ECCE scheme and will be additional to the funding provided for the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS). Services participating in the CCSS will also be eligible to apply for the new scheme and receive increased funding in 2010.
