Marcella Corcoran Kennedy
Ceist:325. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason that a cut in the parent and toddler scheme 2014 has been imposed (details supplied). [31861/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 16 July 2014
Ceisteanna (325)
Freagraí scríofa
Funding of €0.25 million is being provided in 2014 to support the Parent and Toddler Initiative which is implemented by City and County Childcare Committees at county level and is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. This Initiative provides grants to parent and toddler groups with a particular focus on disadvantaged areas.
Following recommendations by Childcare Committees Ireland (CCI), the representative group for the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs), and subsequently agreed by my Department, the Parent and Toddler grant funding in 2014 is being allocated proportionately on the basis of the number of parent and toddler groups reported by each Committee in its most recent end-of-year return. The funding will be released by Pobal in one tranche with any unspent funds to be returned to Pobal at end of year.
The process for allocation to Offaly CCC is consistent with this criteria and the funding allocation of €6,098 for 2014 is based on 26 parent and toddler groups reported in the Committee's 2013 end-of-year return.