Breeda Moynihan-Cronin (Kerry South, Labour)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the future of EOCP funding for community based child care centres; if she will ensure that these centres are put on a sound financial footing into the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35199/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Equal Opportunities Child Care Programme 2000-2006, EOCP, which had a budget of €499 million, including support from the EU structural funds, will effectively come to an end in the latter part of 2007. The successor programme to the EOCP, the National Child care Investment Programme (NCIP) runs from 2006 to 2010. The total budget for the new Programme is approximately €575 million, comprising €357 million in capital funding and €218 million in current funding. A value-for-money review of the EOCP has been commissioned by my office. This review is currently under way and is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2007. The outcome of the review will inform the roll-out of the NCIP, in particular the arrangements for funding community and voluntary groups.