Michael Finneran (Longford-Roscommon, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me the opportunity to discuss this matter on the Adjournment. I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Parlon, who is here to represent the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and hear what I have to say on this important matter.

The Elphin playschool committee has been in existence since May 2004 and it applied for a grant at that time for equipment and staffing. The committee started providing a service in September 2004 and has continued to provide that service. There are currently 19 children in the facility. The unit caters mostly for children of one-parent families, those in social housing and those with income difficulties. Only four of the children have parents in full-time employment.

Despite having applied for a grant in May 2004 and having provided a service since September of that year, the Department has still not grant-aided this group. The only support the playschool has got is a grant of €10,000 from the children at risk fund and a grant of approximately €1,700 from the former Western Health Board, now the HSE, western area.

I find it difficult to understand that no progress has been made on the case of this community group in almost two years. That there is a need for this facility goes without saying. The local district nurse has identified that approximately 130 children under the age of five live in the Elphin area. Currently there are three staff in the facility, two of whom are paid from the limited fees paid by the families of the children. The third member of staff is an employee from the rural social scheme.

There appears to be a turf war going on in the Elphin area between the private provider who was grant-aided by the Department, and who got €50,000 some years ago, and the people providing the community facility. I favour the community facility on the basis that it is necessary on account of the low income level of the parents of the children and the difficulties faced by families in social housing.

I have tried to deal with the problem at local level but it has not been resolved. I was involved in the grant the unit got from the children at risk fund. This community facility will fold if it is not grant-aided and supported in the work it is trying to do. The seven-member committee has the support of the local community and provides a necessary service.

I understand from reports that difficulties have arisen, but I cannot understand why they cannot be resolved. Surely the representatives of ADM or the county child care committee and this group can get together and resolve the difficulties. The Minister in charge of this major fund has provided wonderful services throughout the country and I compliment him on the fine services that have been provided at over 30 locations in County Roscommon. However, Elphin is a small town that needs a community child care facility. It seems the difficulties in providing it cannot be resolved locally. Therefore, I ask that the Minister or an official of the Department try to resolve the problems. The children who need the service must come first. The difficulties between the various groups involved are only secondary.

The provision of community child care facilities for our children is paramount. The Minister must send instructions that the problems must be resolved and that those involved get on with the application for capital and staffing for Elphin playschool committee.

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