Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the significant increase in the capital budget provided for in this subhead. I presume it will be used to fund a new grant scheme to be introduced this year. Will private services, which were unable to avail of the scheme last year, be eligible to avail of the new scheme? Will the scheme be primarily for maintenance works or will service providers be able to apply to it to fund improvements in infrastructure?

The funding for the ECCE programme and the CETS programme is being maintained at the same level and that is welcome. In November 2013 the then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs confirmed that a review of these schemes would take place. Has that review happened? If so, will the Department share the findings of the review with Oireachtas Members? If it is not prepared to do so, will it give the reason?

The new mentoring and service training support scheme was to be rolled out as part of the quality agenda on foot of the RTE exposé of the terrible activities, albeit in a small number of crèches. When will this scheme be rolled out? I understand that 30 staff have been employed but I also understand that they are in an office, unable to go out to do the work for which they have been employed. I was told this as late as Sunday evening by one of the newly employed people. They feel frustrated at the delay which means they are not doing their work.