David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason staffing grant assistance has been discontinued in the case of a group (details supplied) in east Cork; if he will move to re-establish the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26937/04]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the equal opportunities childcare programme provides grant assistance towards the staffing costs of community based or not-for-profit child care services which have a clear focus on disadvantage. The programme has an underlying economic prerogative in terms of promoting opportunities for parents to participate in education, training or employment. Such applications are assessed against five distinct criteria, as set out in the programme's guidelines, which are as follows: the socio-economic and demographic profile of the area; the general quality of the application; the capacity of the group to implement the project; the level of integration or co-ordination of the service; and the cost and value for money of the project.

With respect to the application referred to by the Deputy, I understand that this group was originally approved staffing grant assistance of €44,441 over one year while the group developed its service and in particular its focus on disadvantage.

The group sought additional staffing funding for a further two years and, in June 2004, was informed that its request had been unsuccessful as it had not adequately addressed the recommendations associated with the previous grant approval and had not demonstrated a clear focus on disadvantaged families, which is a prerequisite for staffing grant assistance.

I understand that the group in question has recently submitted an appeal for staffing grant assistance. This appeal has been forwarded to Area Development Management Ltd. and will be re-assessed in light of all new information submitted in connection with the project. On completion of this assessment process, the appeal will be considered by the programme appraisal committee, which will make a recommendation to me before I make my final decision on the application.

In the interim, it would be premature of me to comment further on this appeal for additional staffing grant assistance.