Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress made in the provision of child care services under the National Development Plan 2000 to 2006; the funding allocated for such provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36794/06]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000-2006 is funded as part of the two Regional Operational Programmes under the National Development Plan, and is split between two measures: the Childcare Facilities measure (which receives co-funding from the European Regional Development Fund) and the Childcare Measure (which receives co-funding from the European Social Fund and is divided into the Support for Staffing Grants and Quality Improvement sub-measures).

The EOCP aims to increase the availability and quality of childcare to support parents in employment, education and training. The total funding of €499.3 million available under the Programme is now committed.

The following table sets out the amount spent to the end of June 2006 under the Measures.

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

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the progress to date of the new child care strategy announced in budget 2006; the investment made in the strategy to date; the investment planned over the remainder of the strategy; the outcomes of such investment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36795/06]

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

The NCIP is a key element of the National Childcare Strategy 2006-2010 and is effective from 1 January 2006. Unlike the existing EOCP, the NCIP is entirely Exchequer funded. The decision by the Government to create a major new 5 year investment programme immediately, rather than wait until the EOCP expired, is evidence of the Government's commitment to the provision of quality childcare.

The NCIP aims to provide a proactive response to the development of quality childcare supports and services, which are grounded in an understanding of local needs. The Programme has a budget of €575 million for the 5 year period 2006-2010, with a target to create 50,000 additional childcare places and with a greater focus on pre-school places for 3 to 4 year olds and school age childcare. The 50,000 new places will include 5,000 after school places and 10,000 pre-school education places aimed at 3 to 4 year olds.

The City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) now play a key role in the implementation of the NCIP 2006-2010, to enable greater flexibility and responsiveness to local needs. As a result, additional funding has been allocated for the implementation of their 2006 Supplementary Action Plans and the recruitment of additional staff to take account of the CCC's expanded role under the NCIP.

€13.8 million has been allocated under the NCIP to end September 2006. The funding allocated is expected to lead to the creation of over 6,600 new childcare places and to support or enhance over 1,660 existing places.