Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 June 2012
497 Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of applications under the recent child care capital grant aid scheme that were received from County Laois; the number of such applications that were from the private sector as opposed to from the community; the reason no community-funded scheme in County Laois was grant aided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30292/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Budget 2012, the Government announced capital funding of €6m to fund a maintenance programme for childcare facilities. The programme was open to both community not-for-profit childcare facilities and private childcare facilities, that are currently participating in one of the three childcare programmes implemented by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA). The maximum grant available was €50,000 (including VAT). The aim of the funding is to provide support to childcare settings to address remedial, maintenance and renovation work, or to purchase equipment.
Following a robust appraisal of all applications received, 290 applications were approved for funding with the average amount approved being €21,000. Of the total number of applications approved, 125 were from private childcare facilities. Of the total amount approved, 63% was approved for renovation/expansion works, 25% was approved for the purchase of equipment, 11% for maintenance works, and 0.5% was in respect of professional fees associated with the capital works.
The figures available to my Department are broken down in line with the City and County Childcare Committee structures. The figures for Laois indicate that 56 applications were received from childcare providers in the county and that 4 of these applications were approved for funding. The total funding approved for these groups amounts to €110,357.
The successful applications were those that represented the most complete, coherent, precise and compelling cases for funding. The investment has been directed, to the greatest extent possible, to addressing the most urgent works, and supporting the quality of services making the greatest impact for disadvantaged children and communities. All applicants were notified by Pobal of the outcome and the Pobal website provides a facility for unsuccessful applicants to request by call-back, information to assist them in understanding the reasons for the outcome of their applications.
498 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the threat to the complementary funding stream to Donegal County Childcare Committee; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this funding is directed towards child protection and upskilling of employees and that cuts to this funding will result in job losses and in childcare providers being unable to upskill their workers, taking into consideration that almost 800 employees are directly affected by this reduction; and if she will ensure that complementary funding stream is retained by the committee. [30375/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 33 City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) were established in 2001 to advance the provision of childcare facilities in their local areas. They comprise local representatives from the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, social partners, childcare providers and parents.
The role of the CCCs was expanded under the National Childcare Investment Programme to enable greater flexibility and responsiveness to local needs, and they had a key role in the development of local childcare infrastructure, quality standards, training and information. More recently, CCCs have been increasingly dedicated to locally managing administrative processes associated with the national childcare programmes (the Community Childcare Subvention programme, the Early Childhood Care and Education programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support programme). They also support the performance and sustainability of services in their respective areas.
Each CCC receives funding from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to implement its Local Implementation Plan. In 2012, the total amount allocated to the CCCs is €11.3m, with Donegal County Childcare Committee receiving an allocation of €370,000.
In relation to funding provided nationally by the HSE to support City and County Childcare Committees, the HSE has advised that there has been no decision to withdraw this funding. However, I understand that at a local level funding has been reduced or has ceased in some areas due to the implementation of cost containment measures. The HSE has advised that it allocates funding on a prioritisation basis which takes cognisance of the best interests of the child as paramount to any decision.
The HSE has confirmed that funding totalling €87,678 was provided to Donegal County Childcare Committee in 2011 and €83,631 was provided in 2012. The HSE is currently reviewing funding for 2013 with Donegal County Childcare Committee.
