Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason a grant has been refused by his Department for the Busy Bee creche in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the person is fully qualified to run such a creche; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that there is a great need for such a facility in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8823/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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An application for capital grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 was submitted by the private provider in question some time ago. The programme 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.

Each application for funding undergoes a thorough assessment by Area Development Management Limited, which has been engaged by my Department to carry out the day to day administration of the programme. Following this assessment all applications are then considered by the programme appraisal committee, which is chaired by my Department, before I make a final decision on the matter. In this case the programme appraisal committee was unable to recommend the project to me for funding because the proposal did not create any additional child care places and therefore did not represent value for money.

I have been informed by the child care directorate of my Department that an appeal has been lodged by the applicant in question and that this appeal is in the final stages of assessment. Following receipt of an appeal, ADM re-assesses the application in the light of any additional information which might be supplied in support of the application. Following this re-assessment a recommendation will be submitted to the programme appraisal committee again for consideration. The committee will also take into account any of the additional information supplied, which may be relevant before making a recommendation to me regarding funding. In the interim, it would be inappropriate for me to comment any further on this matter.