Written answers

Thursday, 26 May 2005

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment

Child Care Services

4:00 pm

Photo of M J NolanM J Nolan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his Department or the IDA construct and run crèche facilities in industrial estates in the ownership of the IDA for the use of employees in the IDA industrial and technology parks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17756/05]

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The management of IDA Ireland's industrial property portfolio, including the provision of crèche facilities in its industrial estates and business parks, is a day-to-day operational matter for the agency. They are not matters in which I have a function.

My inquiries indicated that in March 2002, IDA Ireland commenced the phased roll out of an implementation programme to facilitate the provision of high quality child care facilities at selected IDA business parks. The initiative represents the first stage in the IDA strategy to increase the supply of quality child care places available in close proximity to workplaces and enhance the services available at its business parks.

The IDA invited proposals through newspaper advertisements from child care providers for the design, construction, financing and operation of high quality child care facilities at selected business parks. As the facilitator of the process, the IDA designates sites for sale on a managed and controlled basis and co-ordinates the process through the selection and planning stages of each project to ensure the highest quality standards are maintained. Following a public tender process, successful applicants have been selected and new child care facilities are now operational at IDA business parks in Athlone at Garrycastle, Galway at Parkmore, Tullamore, Kilkenny and Cork.

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