James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Michael Ahern, for taking this motion on the Ballynacargy child care service. The Ballynacargy child care committee urgently requires funding to extend and develop their existing child care services which are situated on the main street of Ballynacargy village, County Westmeath. This service is managed by the pre-school committee which consists of parents of the children attending the play group. They are responsible for decision making and the employment of staff, which currently consists of a play leader and two assistant leaders. Located eight miles from Multyfarnham and ten miles from Mullingar, the Ballynacargy child care service provides pre-school services to a wide area. It prepares children for Sonna and Ballynacargy national school, the Milltown and Empor national school and other areas including Moyvore, Grange, Baronstown and Slanemore. Ballynacargy and surrounding areas have been fortunate to have access to a play group facility for the past 13 years. This has been widely acknowledged by parents and teachers to be of significant benefit to children and the entire community.

Originally based on one room of the parochial hall, the play group moved to a ground floor consisting of four rooms and a walled garden in 1997. It opened a room at the rear of the building in 2000. This was followed by the development of a playground in 2001 which provides an ideal outdoor environment for children. This well established play group currently provides a facility for 20 children but it is essential that this service be extended to cope with the increasing demands for places in this area, which is designated as disadvantaged and which faces all the problems associated with high unemployment.

Research has shown that children who are exposed to a high quality of early care and education with active parental involvement are more likely to remain in education, secure employment and avoid delinquancy and are more likely to break the cycle of educational disadvantage which leads to unemployment and deprivation in a never ending and self-perpetuating cycle. Current educational thought promotes early intervention at the source of deprivation rather than pouring money into solving problems at a late stage. Early intervention is vital and should be the main route of attack on disadvantage.

All children benefit from a structured learning environment which allows them to learn and develop at their own pace. This is particularly pertinent in disadvantaged areas where such well documented benefits should be open to all children regardless of parental means. Similarly, long-term benefits accrue to parents who, while their children are being looked after and educationally stimulated, may pursue employment and further educational opportunities, thus developing and extending their lives and those of their families and the wider community.

The Government has stated that the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006, to which this group has applied for funding, is a key element of the national development plan's aim to increase the availibility and quality of child care so as to support parents in employment, education and training. The programme now has €499 million which must be spent within the duration of the national development plan or before the end of 2007. I am aware that many worthy projects call on these resources.

On the principle of the Lord helping those who help themselves, I ask the Minister for State to make funding available to Ballynacargy community child care service under the equal opportunities child care programme. This group has helped its community and has 13 years of experience in child care and after-school programmes. It has reached the point where help is needed to expand its excellent facilities. Purchasing its current accommodation from the VEC would allow it to expand its current play group and after-school services to meet the ever increasing demand for places. I strongly urge the Minister of State to help this worthwhile project by providing essential funding. The service has knocked on the Minister of State's door for a long time and he might consider meeting a delegation from the child care committee.