Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be made to pay out a staffing grant to a voluntary community organisation (details supplied) in County Westmeath as same is urgently required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5682/07]

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 submitted an application for staffing grant assistance for three years under the EOCP and €19,046 was approved in December 2001, towards the staffing costs for one year. Consideration of further funding of the Group was subject to a review of progress after one year.

Drawdown of the initial grant was completed in February 2006. The Group's application towards second and third year staffing grant assistance was considered by the Programme Appraisal Committee (PAC) in July 2006. The PAC did not recommend to the Secretary-General that he further fund the project as the service had not met the original conditions of funding, the targets set or reporting requirements. Furthermore it was not demonstrated that the service was facilitating parents to access employment, education or training.

The Group subsequently requested a review of this decision. The PAC recently reviewed the decision and having considered all information available, recommended to the Secretary-General to uphold the original decision. The Secretary-General concurred with the recommendation of the PAC not to approve additional funding in this instance. I understand that the Childcare Directorate of my Office has informed the Group of this decision.