Noel Coonan (Fine Gael)

Last week the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform announced a staffing grant of €100,000 for a crèche centre in Templemore. This is most welcome but the problem is that the centre is not yet built. The planning process is under way at present. Now that the war chest is full and such grants will be allocated over the summer, can the Leader ensure equal treatment for the taxpayers of Ireland? A number of people have applied for grants for crèche facilities and have been ignored yet a centre that is not yet built has been awarded a staffing grant. Could the Leader arrange to explain to Members of the Opposition the criteria used in determining allocation of these grants?