Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the amount of grant support that has been allocated in the past five years in the RAPID designated areas under the equal opportunities child care programme. [29996/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The RAPID or revitalising areas by planning, investment and development programme targets the most concentrated areas of disadvantage in the State by ensuring that priority attention is given to these areas by Departments and State agencies dealing with disadvantage and local development in the widest sense.

The RAPID programme selected 45 target areas in cities and towns for priority investment and frontloading of funding under the National Development Plan 2000- 2006, the NDP. My Department decides on approving funding for RAPID proposals within the context of existing allocations across the Vote under my Department's remit. Particular priority is given to RAPID proposals which fall within the functional areas financed by the NDP.

Although the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme, EOCP, 2000 — 2006, under the national development plan, is not solely focused on RAPID areas, it has contributed significantly to the provision of child care in RAPID areas. I understand from inquiries made with Area Development Management Limited, ADM, which administers the grants on my Department's behalf, that funding committed under the EOCP includes the provision of almost €102 million in funding to child care services operating in RAPID areas. This amount includes a mix of projects which came forward in the first instance under RAPID area regeneration plans, and projects which applied directly for funding to the equal opportunities child care programme and which are located in RAPID areas.

The allocations under the EOCP include support for the development of new child care places and support towards the staffing costs of services. Allocations have also been made under the EOCP to organisations which support the promotion of quality in Irish child care, which would positively impact on many services located in RAPID areas.