Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 349: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an application has been received by his Department (details supplied); his views on the application; when the group will be informed of a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23186/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Deputy may be aware that the group in question has been awarded staffing grant assistance of €178,263 to date, under the equal opportunities child care programme, EOCP, 2000-06.

I understand that an application for capital grant assistance under the EOCP was submitted by this group to my Department in January 2004. This application has been forwarded to Area Development Management Ltd., which is engaged by my Department to carry out detailed assessments of all EOCP grant applications on my behalf. Each application for funding undergoes a thorough assessment by ADM to ensure it meets the EOCP funding criteria.

I understand from inquiries I have made that ADM has been in dialogue with the group recently regarding outstanding information on the scale of the project, its costings and the child care needs in the area. ADM is awaiting this additional information from the group in order to advance the assessment process.

When the assessment on the project in question is completed, the application will then be considered by the EOCP appraisal committee, chaired by my Department, before I make a final decision and the group will be informed of the outcome in due course.