Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 274: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the increase in fees at a crèche (details supplied) in Dublin 1; if she will provide extra funding for the creche; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14599/07]

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.

Under the EOCP, staffing grant assistance is available to assist community based / not for profit childcare Groups with a focus on disadvantage to meet the staffing costs of their childcare facility. With regard to the Group in question, I understand that they were approved for an additional staffing grant of €49,375 in December 2006, bringing their staffing grant funding for the period October 2006 to December 2007 up to the maximum level of staffing funding allowed under the EOCP, that is €172,500 per annum. To date, this Group has been approved a total of €920,219 in EOCP staffing grant assistance.

I understand that this Group recently made an application for capital grant assistance under the NCIP which is currently being assessed by Pobal, who manage the day to day operation of the programmes on behalf of my Office, and that they will be in contact with the Group shortly in this regard.

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 275: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when steps will be taken to guarantee funding for the EOCP (details supplied). [14836/07]

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 Investment 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.

Staffing funding under the EOCP runs to 31 December 2007, when that Programme comes to a close. A new programme of staffing grants under the NCIP is to be announced in 2007 with the criteria and procedures to be informed by the outcome of the Value for Money Review of the EOCP which has recently concluded. Details of the new scheme are expected to be announced in mid-2007 and will be made available both generally and to existing staffing grant recipients in good time to allow an orderly transition for Groups currently funded under the EOCP.