Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 377: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the capital funding he proposes for County Waterford in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27925/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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As the Deputy is aware, the equal opportunities child care programme provides capital and current funding to child care providers to develop services which support parents in employment, education or training. Since the programme began, I have approved more than €16.3 million, of which €12 million relates to capital projects, in grants to services located in County Waterford. This funding, when fully expended, is expected to lead to the creation of more than 1,300 new child care places and support a further 950 existing child care places in the county. At the end of June 2005, more than 560 of these new places had already been delivered in a mix of new and upgraded facilities. In 2005 alone, I have approved 20 individual grants in the county, totalling almost €8 million, of which €7.04 million relates to capital funding.

It may also interest the Deputy to note that the programme provides funding to the Waterford city and county child care committees. These committees have been allocated €371,000 to deliver their 2005 annual action plans and provide valuable supports to local child care providers. The type of work undertaken by city and county committees includes disseminating information, child care training, supporting groups in applying for funding under the programme, establishing and operating networks of providers and parents, administering a small grant programme for childminders, assisting in the development of school age child care in their county and promoting quality service provision.