Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 422: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position with regard to a child care application for a group (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26259/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As the Deputy may be aware, the community-based group in question was awarded staffing grant assistance under the equal opportunities childcare programme, EOCP, 2000-2006, of €60,000 over three years in September 2002. The amount approved was considered to be a sufficient contribution for the level of service being provided.

I understand from inquiries I have made with Area Development Management Limited, ADM, which is engaged by my Department to carry out the day-to-day administration of the EOCP, that the group has drawn down €38,100 of the staffing grant to date. At the current rate of spend, the group is assured funding until December 2005.

Following a detailed review of the existing staffing grants under the EOCP, my Department recently extended the terms of the grants to the end of December 2007 to groups which have received staffing grants for a period of three or more years and which continue to deliver a child care service in accordance with their pre-agreed targets. To benefit from such funding, the groups must continue to pay particular attention to the support of disadvantaged families and the implementation of a fee structure tailored to the differing economic circumstances of the client group and which ensures that child care places subsidised by the EOCP are targeted towards those most in need.

I understand from inquiries I have made to ADM that the group in question is currently providing a lower level of service than that originally committed to and for which the grant was approved. I further understand that ADM is in dialogue with the group and is carrying out a full review of the extent to which the service is meeting the objectives of the EOCP, with particular reference to the key objectives to meet the needs of parents in employment, training or education. When the review is completed, a decision will be made regarding future funding for the group in question. The group will be informed of the outcome of the review in due course.