Michael Ahern (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

I thank Senator Bannon for raising this matter. It gives me a welcome opportunity to update the Seanad on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on the important issue of child care, which is a priority for the Government. The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 is a key element of the national development plan. It is a seven year development programme which aims to increase the availability and quality of child care to support parents in employment, education and training.

The funding package has been increased on a number of occasions to meet increased demands to develop this important sector. The Government is aware of the importance of providing child care to support the economy and to support social inclusion through labour market participation. It has also listened to requests from the many groups which seek to build child care facilities which will meet local needs. The Government has made additional capital funding available immediately in order to build on the momentum which has been generated by the EOCP in community groups throughout Ireland rather than await an additional programme under a new national development plan. The original funding package of €318 million set aside for the seven year programme in 2000 has now increased to just over €499 million and includes an increased provision of €205 million for capital developments. This sum includes part of the additional capital provision of €90 million made available by the Minister for Finance in budget 2005 over the period 2005 to 2009 to develop child care infrastructure. Since budget 2005 the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has announced a record allocation of €67 million in capital funding for community based not-for-profit groups in two tranches in December 2004 and March 2005.

I understand that the Ballynacargy group in County Westmeath is currently planning a new child care centre to replace and expand its existing service. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform informed me that the group submitted a capital grant application for funding under the EOCP to his Department. The availability of additional capital funding will enable the Minister to make further capital grant assistance available to groups which address significant child care service gaps and where the project proposal represents good value for money. In light of this, Ballynagargy community child care service was advised in December 2004 that while their project had not been prioritised for immediate funding, it will be reconsidered in the future. The Minister hopes to make further capital commitments in 2005 and thereafter to child care projects which link clearly with the aims of the programme, which offer value for money and clearly demonstrate they would fill a service gap in their local area. The ongoing assessment of all capital applications in the pipeline will be concluded as speedily as possible to facilitate the development of additional child care facilities and places at the earliest opportunity.

When the assessment on the Ballynacargy community child care services project is completed, the application will then be considered by the programme appraisal committee chaired by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform before the Minister makes a decision. I assure Senator Bannon that the group will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible. The Senator may be aware that staffing funding under the EOCP totalling €195,000 was approved in June 2003 for the Ballynacargy community child care service. This provides the group with annual support of €65,000 towards the staffing costs for their existing service. The EOCP provides staffing grant assistance to community based not for profit child care services, which have a clear focus on disadvantage and can demonstrate that they are supporting access by disadvantaged parents to employment and educational training, as is the case in Ballynacargy.

Efforts are being made to achieve a good geographical spread through the appraisals and approvals process. County Westmeath has already been approved over €9.2 million under the EOCP, with 43 capital grants approved to establish either new or quality enhanced, community based, not for private or private child care facilities. The county has also benefited from 24 staffing grants to community groups that focus on disadvantage. This funding to child care providers in Westmeath is leading to the creation of over 1,100 new child care places and to the support of over 1,100 existing places. In addition, Westmeath county child care committee also receives on average over €200,000 annually to support its developmental work through the implementation of its annual action plans.

The EOCP is the Government's response to the need to develop quality child care infrastructure. It has contributed significantly to the progress made in that regard. I hope Senator Bannon will acknowledge the progress made to date in County Westmeath and be reassured that all possible steps are being taken to further develop the services in the area as expeditiously as possible. With regard to his request to meet the deputation, I will bring that matter to the attention of the Minister, Deputy McDowell.