Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 409: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when an ADM grant will be awarded to a playschool (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3428/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy may be aware that the equal opportunities child care programme provides grant assistance towards the staffing costs of community and not-for-profit child care services which have a clear focus on disadvantage. I have been informed by the child care directorate of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform that the group in question has been awarded two separate annual staffing grants of €12,000, totalling €24,000, under the programme to date. The group has submitted an additional application for further funding for another year.

The day-to-day administration of the programme is undertaken by Area Development Management Limited, which has been engaged by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to conduct, on my behalf, thorough assessments against the programme criteria of all applications for grant assistance. The staffing grant application in question is in the final stages of the assessment process and I expect to make a final decision on it within days. In the interim, it would be premature of me to comment further on the application.