Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the funding available for the building of a crèche child care centre; the way in which a person can apply for the funding; the criteria which must be met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8734/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the national childcare investment programme from 2006 to 2010 is being implemented by the newly established office of the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children with special responsibility for children, Deputy Brian Lenihan. This programme builds on the success of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-06, EOCP, which will conclude in 2007. The new programme aims to provide a proactive response to the development of quality child care supports and services that are grounded in an understanding of local child care needs.

To achieve this approach arrangements are being put in place with the city and county child care committees, CCCs, to facilitate the initial development stage of applications for grant assistance for child care facilities at local level. Both private and community-not for profit sector child care providers may apply for capital funding under the new programme by completing expression of interest forms, which will be available from their local CCCs. The CCCs will provide the necessary assistance to applicants in developing their application to the pre-appraisal stage.

At the appropriate stage in the process applications will be forwarded by the CCCs to Pobal, which administers the programme on behalf of the office of Minister of State with special responsibility for children. Pobal will carry out a technical appraisal of the applications and make recommendations to the office. Decisions on the applications will be made by the office within the Department of Health and Children.

Private sector child care providers may apply for grant assistance of up to €100,000 towards the capital cost of developing a child care service in a catchment area where there is a demonstrated child care need. An applicant may apply for more than one grant under this scheme provided the subsequent child care facilities are in different catchment areas and subject to an overall ceiling of €500,000 per applicant. In each case, an applicant must provide at least 25% of the total cost of the project. All grant payments will be subject to the relevant criteria having been met, including demonstrated local need, quality of the proposal and value for money. Community-not for profit child care providers may apply for grant assistance up to a maximum of €1 million per project. Expression of interest forms will be available later this month. In the meantime existing applications will continue to be processed.