Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost to the Exchequer of increasing the early childcare supplement to €2,000. [8168/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The current rate of Early Childcare Supplement (ECS) is €250 per quarter or €1,000 for a full year. While the cost of doubling the rate of the ECS would depend on a number of factors, including the effective date, future claim loads and the processing of backdated claims, it is considered reasonable to assume that a doubling of the rate of the ECS would also double its full year cost to the Exchequer. The Revised Estimates Volume shows an estimated 2007 spend of €406m. If this was doubled, the cost to the Exchequer would be more than €800m.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the cost to the Exchequer of providing 50,000 additional childcare places. [8169/07]

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 to 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. Unlike the EOCP, the NCIP is completely Exchequer funded. The NCIP is designed to deliver 50,000 additional childcare places, with a greater focus on pre-school places for 3 to 4 year olds and school age childcare. Childcare places are provided either through community based/not for profit childcare groups or by private providers.

Of the €575 million total budget for the NCIP, some €357 million is earmarked for capital investment and to provide for the cost of meeting the programme's target of 50,000 additional childcare places. Capital grant applications under the NCIP are assessed under a number of criteria; chiefly the nature and extent of the need locally for the service proposed, the applicant's capacity to deliver the project proposed and value for money. All proposals are expected to demonstrate how they will increase the supply of quality childcare, and furthermore, community projects are expected to have a focus on disadvantage.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the funding for staffing that is available for new community playgroups at present, in view of the fact that new groups would not be in a position to meet the end of 2006 EOCP contractual timeframe and details of the new staffing grants under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 to 2010 will not be made available until later in 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8074/07]

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 introduction of the NCIP in January 2006, prior to the closure of the EOCP, has facilitated applicants unable to meet the end of EOCP deadlines for grant assistance by providing an alternative source of grant aid for childcare provision.

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 NCIP aims to deliver a more comprehensive approach to early years care and education and to deliver 50,000 additional childcare places, with a greater focus on pre-school places for 3-4 year olds and school age childcare.

Support towards the staffing costs of employing childcare workers, in community based childcare facilities in disadvantaged areas, was provided under the EOCP and 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 later this year 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.

With regard to EOCP staffing grant applicants who have already entered into contract in respect of a linked EOCP capital grant, and who are due to open new childcare facilities in advance of the introduction of the proposed new programme of staffing grants under the NCIP, applications for EOCP staffing grant assistance will continue to be considered, subject to the availability of EOCP funding for this purpose.