Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 233: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be made to pay out a capital grant to a community organisation (details supplied) in County Westmeath as same is urgently required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5683/07]

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.

As part of the process of closing the EOCP, the final date for processing capital applications under the EOCP and reaching contract stage was 31 December 2006. Following a recent appraisal by the Programme Appraisal Committee (PAC), the Group's application for capital funding was not recommended for funding under the EOCP, as the application could not meet the contractual deadline. I understand that the Childcare Directorate of my Office has informed the Group of this decision and it is recommended that they develop the application within the context of the NCIP.