Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will increase the staffing grant to a crèche (details supplied) in County Limerick to ensure that the grant is sufficient to meet the needs of the Crèche and the staffing levels required under the Health Service Regulations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4538/07]

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.

The Group in question has recently been approved €34,500 in staffing grant assistance under the EOCP. I understand the Childcare Directorate of my Office has informed the Group of this decision. To date some €496,145 in staffing grant assistance has been approved in respect of this Group which is considered the appropriate level of funding for the service provided.

The Group has also been approved €1.2 million in Capital Grant Assistance under the EOCP.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the arrangements she is putting in place to continue the operation of community crèches; if she will increase the numbers of these crèches in operation; the way she proposes to do this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4658/07]

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.

The NCIP came into effect from 1 January 2006, with an allocation of €575 million for the 5 year period of 2006-2010. The NCIP is a key element of the National Childcare Strategy 2006-2010, the aim of which is to deliver a more comprehensive approach to early years care and education. The NCIP is designed to deliver 50,000 additional childcare places, with a greater focus on pre-school places for 3-4 year olds and school age childcare. Childcare places are provided either through community based/not for profit childcare groups or by private providers.

Under the EOCP support is provided towards the staffing costs of employing childcare workers in community based childcare facilities in disadvantaged areas, ensuring that less advantaged parents in those areas have access to quality childcare in order to facilitate access to education, training and employment opportunities. Staffing grants under the EOCP have been extended to 31 December 2007 for all groups who are meeting the terms of their existing staffing grant contracts. A new programme of staffing grants under the NCIP is expected to be announced in 2007 and will be informed by the outcome of a Value for Money Review of the EOCP which is currently in progress. The Review is expected to be completed in the first half of 2007 following which the procedures and criteria governing the new grant scheme will be made available both generally and to existing staffing grant recipients.