Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 12: To ask the Minister for Defence the progress made on providing a workplace child care facility in the Curragh Camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35987/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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A request to provide crèche facilities for members of the Defence Forces has been made by the Defence Forces representative associations.

The Defence Forces partnership steering group, which was established following on from Partnership 2000, has tasked a partnership sub-committee with examining the issue of the provision of child care facilities under a number of headings, including demand for places, location and cost.

The partnership sub-committee has now completed a survey on the demand for crèche places in the vicinity of the Curragh. Work has also been completed with regard to a possible site and estimates of costs. Following on from this, I understand the sub-committee has submitted a draft report to the partnership steering group on the feasibility of the project. I am assured a final report will be available in the near future.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister request the report as soon as possible? I asked a similar question in November 2007 and received a similar response. I remind the Minister that apart from personnel on site in the Curragh, it is proposed to move 400 people from headquarters in Dublin there, resulting in approximately 3,000 people being on site in the Curragh. It will be like a small town. Almost every other Department of that size has a crèche facility for its employees. Why, therefore, should there not be a facility at the Curragh?

I understand there is a question mark over the facility on the grounds of costs. Why discriminate against Army personnel in the Curragh? Male and female personnel equally require the crèche facility to help them manage their daily lives. If a facility was available they could have their children cared for close to their workplace, just like other people. Will the Minister demand this report be presented to him? I understand it has been completed, but that there is a reluctance to move on it because of cost factors, but they should not come into consideration. Personnel at the Curragh should receive the same treatment as personnel in other Departments.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to the initial question, I will study the report. I have not received it yet and do not know what is in it, but I will make inquiries as to when it will be available. With regard to the general issue of cost factors, the position is there is no funding available from the Department of Finance for the infrastructure. Therefore, if we decided to put a crèche in the Curragh, the cost would have to come from the depleted capital budget of the Department of Defence, which has been considerably reduced this year. I am not saying it will not, but that is from where it would have to come.

One of the major factors I would have to consider with regard to making that decision would be the other demands on our capital budget. I would also have to consider whether the crèche would be self-financing. The other crèches provided by the public service are all self-financing and one at the Curragh would have to be the same. That would depend on demand. Those details will be in the report. I will inquire this evening as to when the report will be available, but I understand it will be available quite soon.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I am sure that if the Minister gave Army personnel the opportunity to make that choice, they would welcome it. With regard to the altar of fiscal rectitude within the Department, I am sure the Minister would not discriminate against young children with regard to much needed child care facilities, particularly at a time when the Minister is trying to encourage more female personnel to join the Army. Recruitment in that area is not going too well. I am aware the Minister has said previously that having a child care facility in the Curragh would not be a major incentive for attracting women into the Army, but it could be one of the many incentives necessary to attract women into the Army. Therefore, the idea should not be dismissed. I hope the Minister does not dismiss it.

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Deenihan referred to the altar of fiscal rectitude. Many things have been sacrificed by many Governments throughout the history of the State on the altar of fiscal rectitude. I will give this undertaking to the House. If a decision must be taken as to whether I provide money from my reduced capital budget to provide the infrastructure, the decision will only arise if the report indicates there is sufficient demand to make the crèche self-financing. If we get to that stage and I am considering it, I will look at the proposal very sympathetically.