Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 363: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of child care centres, crèches and other child care facilities in County Kerry which are currently in receipt of funding from his Department or which would have received funding in any of the past five years; and the names and addresses of these facilities. [7850/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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During the summer of 2004, my Department published a comprehensive review of progress under the equal opportunities childcare programme 2000-2006 entitled Developing Childcare In Ireland. This document was circulated to all Members of the Oireachtas and was also posted on the Department's website. Much of the information the Deputy is seeking concerning the period up to the end of 2003 is included in this report.

It is intended to update these statistics twice yearly. The first such update, which will cover the period up to end of 2004, is expected to become available over the coming months and will be posted on the Department's website and circulated to interested parties, including Members of the Oireachtas.

The overall position on County Kerry is that, to date, I have approved 123 grants totalling over €16.5 million in respect of capital, staffing and quality improvement projects across the county. It is anticipated that this funding will lead to the creation of 1,816 new child care places and will support a further 1,041 existing places. This funding includes over €7.8 million in capital grant assistance to 29 community-based, not for profit groups; over €6.7 million in staffing grant assistance to 59 community-based, not for profit projects; €752,531 in capital grant assistance for 22 private sector child care projects; and over €1.2 million to Kerry county child care committee. This funding is to enable them to carry out their day-to-day activities and to deliver on their respective action plans.