Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 610: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position regarding an application for funding to develop a pre-school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will confirm if this application is under consideration for funding. [2113/07]

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.

With regard to the application for capital grant assistance under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000 — 2006 referred to in the question, I understand that the Group concerned were notified in May 2006 that they were not recommended for capital grant assistance, as the project did not represent value for money when considered in line with building costs guidelines, and that there is a risk of duplication and displacement of existing services. The letter informing the Group of this decision was dated 10 May 2006 and it further informed the Group that any appeal should be submitted within one month of the issue of that letter. My Office is not aware of any formal appeal being submitted by the Group. In order to obtain capital funding under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 contracts were required to be signed with Pobal, which is engaged to administer the grants, before 31 December 2006. However, if the Group wish to have an application for capital grant assistance considered under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010, they may do so by contacting Cork County Childcare Committee.