Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Question 450: To ask the Minister for Health if she proposes to provide capital grant assistance in 2012 towards the provision of child-care facilities, particularly where demand for such services has already been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17452/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have responsibility for the implementation of the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) which included a capital grant programme to develop childcare facilities.

Under the NCIP capital funding was made available to community and commercial mainstream childcare providers for the development and refurbishment of childcare facilities. You will be aware that, due to the economic downturn, it was necessary for a review of capital expenditure to be undertaken in early 2009. As a result, the previous Government decided to close the programme to new grant applications.

Capital funding continues to be available to my Department in 2011 but this funding is required to meet existing NCIP capital grant commitments. You will be aware also that all programme funding is considered in the context of the annual estimates and budgetary process and it is not possible in advance of these discussions to determine the funding available to my Department in 2012.