Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I thank the Minister for State for taking this Adjournment matter. I received an impassioned plea from Templemore community services for help, support and advice after capital funding under the equal opportunities child care programme was refused for the Templemore community child care service. This service, which has operated for 25 years, provides a vital service to the community despite inadequate temporary accommodation. Users include a disabled child, which has led to requests from the parents of other disabled children to avail of the service. Traveller children are also accommodated. This service plays a role in supporting equality and reducing disadvantage in the Templemore community. The providers, who form part of Templemore community services, are distraught at the future prospects for the service and stunned to learn that they cannot access necessary capital funds under this programme.

I am aware that the equal opportunities child care programme is limited. However, considerable allocations have recently been made by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform under the capital funding budget for the programme. While a number of child care projects in north Tipperary have been allocated funding, the Templemore project has not. Despite conducting fundraising activities, it has incurred debts in meeting the criteria set by Area Development Management Limited. New staff have been hired as the service expanded. An application for planning permission entailed the payment of significant sums to architects and other professionals. The service, having been refused funding, is now in debt. I am sure the Minister for State will appreciate the difficulties that it faces.

This House has discussed child care recently and I have asked for a debate on the equal opportunities child care programme. It is a great programme without which less would be achieved by communities. It is the Government's response to the crisis in the supply of child care places. I acknowledge the work carried out by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to support services in communities. However, the Templemore situation reveals the shortcomings of the programme. This Government must spend money to develop the child care services we want. Many facilities currently await news of staffing grants from the Department, officials of which informed the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights that they in turn await clearance from the Department of Finance. The issue of Templemore and other facilities is clearly one of money. I appeal to the Minister to allow the Templemore service to hold out hope for developing future services. It has appealed the decision and I hope there will be favourable news.