Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 608: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will sanction a staffing grant to a group (details supplied) in County Mayo. [1866/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 792: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when an application by a group (details supplied) in County Mayo was first submitted to POBAL for a staffing grant; the stages that it was to go through for full appraisal and decision; the date the final decision was made on this application; the amount that was provided to this group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1915/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 608 and 792 together.

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.

Community based/not for profit groups who applied for staffing grant assistance under the EOCP submitted applications to the Childcare Directorate which, prior to December 2005 was within the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. These applications were then forwarded to Pobal (formally known as ADM Ltd) which is engaged to manage the day-to-day operation of the programme. Thorough appraisals of all applications are carried out by Pobal prior to their consideration by the Programme Appraisal Committee chaired by the Childcare Directorate. The recommendations of the Committee are then forwarded for decision to the Secretary General of the Department.

The Group in question was approved a total of €137,000 in capital grant assistance in June 2005 under the EOCP towards an extension of their existing facility.

In April 2002, the Group was approved a total of €38,000 in staffing grant assistance under the EOCP for a period of 3 years. Approval for an additional €33,000 in staffing grant assistance was given in September 2005 for the period to 31 December 2007. A request by the Group for additional staffing funding, to cover the childcare places associated with the extension of the service, was approved on 15 December 2006 with the grant of a further €60,200. This brings the total amount in staffing grant support approved to 31 December 2007, to €131,200. Each of the decisions to approve funding, including the most recent approval of 15 December 2006, has been communicated to the Group.