Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the Equal Opportunities Child Care Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and the National Child Care 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, which is EU co-funded and subject to agreed timescales which must be observed if financial penalties are not to accrue to the State, it was necessary for all grant applicants to have proceeded to contract stage by 31 December 2006. The Group in question submitted their application to Pobal, which is engaged to assess all grants on behalf of my Office, on 18 October 2006. However, as information necessary to complete the assessment was not received from the Group until 6 December 2006, it was not possible to complete the assessment and appraisal process and proceed to contract by 31 December 2006. As a result, it was necessary in this case to decline grant funding under the EOCP.

Details of a new staffing grant scheme under the NCIP are expected to be announced later this year at which stage the position regarding grant funding for this Group will be reviewed. Officials in my Office will be in contact with the Group in due course to inform them of the outcome of that review.