Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I also wish to highlight that in the funding decision announced last week, €250,000 each will be made available to parent and toddler groups and to the childminding development grants scheme, which also are two highly important initiatives. If I may, I will reframe the manner in which the Deputy is describing the scheme by stating the Government is targeting a sector that requires support this year. Clearly, over the past two years, where there was capital investment, the schemes were targeted at particular areas. It has been identified that refurbishment is needed in the community sector in particular and that there should be a targeted scheme for this year. That is what this is. It is not a question of seeking to exclude any particular sector but is about targeting as resources are available. Were unlimited resources available, clearly one would be able to do everything all at once. However, given that this is not the case, the Government has targeted the money available this year to support the refurbishment of the community public sector, based on the needs in that area at present. However, I certainly am not excluding in any way the provision of support at a future date to the private child care providers, as I provided during the first two years as well.

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