Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 265: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the level of funding available under the equal opportunities child care programme over the past three years; the number benefiting from these programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36095/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Child care Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Child care Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children. The EOCP is a seven year development programme which aims to increase the availability and quality of child care to support parents in employment, education and training. The total funding of €499.3 million available under the Programme is now committed, of which €361.3 million has been committed since 1 January 2003.

It is expected that the funding committed under the Programme will, when fully drawn down, lead to the creation of some 41,000 new child care places, of which 31,750 were already in place by end June 2006. The Programme is also supporting 24,600 existing child care places.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that the funding allocated to a club (details supplied) in County Sligo is increased, as it has been operating for the past number of years, is located in a CLÁR disadvantage area and is dependant on financial assistance to allow it to continue with its programme for development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36166/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Child care Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Child care Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), which are being implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children.

I understand from enquiries I have made that the Group in question has submitted a request for a review of the decision on their application for further staffing grant assistance under the EOCP. This request was forwarded to Pobal, which is engaged to carry out detailed assessments of all applications under the EOCP. Following the review of the application, a recommendation will be made to the Programme Appraisal Committee, prior to a decision being made by the Secretary General of this Department. The Group in question will be informed of the outcome of the assessment in due course.