Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to her reply to a previous parliamentary question, if she will take steps to expedite the payment of capital funding and other funding to a community organisation (details supplied) in County Westmeath as provision of these facilities in this area is important; the steps she will take to have same progressed and a grant awarded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9033/07]

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 my Office.

As I stated in my reply to the previous Parliamentary Question tabled by the Deputy regarding this application, as part of the process of closing the EOCP, the final date for reaching contract stage was 31 December 2006. As the Deputy will be aware, the EOCP is co-funded by the European Union, and timescales agreed with the Commission must be observed, as financial penalties will accrue to the State if they are not. It was not possible for the Group in question to meet the contractual deadline under the EOCP, and consequently, their applications under that Programme were declined. I understand that the Childcare Directorate of my Office has informed the Group of that decision, and recommended to them that they develop their applications within the context of the NCIP.

To date, there is no record of an application by the Group being made under the NCIP. If the Group intend to make such an application, they should contact their local County Childcare Committee (CCC). The CCC will assess this application, and that assessment will be considered by the Programme Appraisal Committee, which will make a recommendation to the Secretary-General of the Department of Health and Children, who in turn will make the final decision regarding funding.