Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be reached on the application, under the NCIP community childcare subvention scheme 2008 to 2010, of a childcare programme (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25833/07]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, 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 (OMC).

Under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which is co-funded under the EU Social Fund (ESF), targeted support was provided through the staffing support grant scheme whereby community based not-for-profit childcare providers with a strong focus on disadvantage were awarded grant aid towards their staffing costs to allow them to operate reduced fees to disadvantaged parents. The Group in question is currently in receipt of staffing grant assistance under the EOCP scheme and this funding will continue in place until the end of December 2007.

As signalled at the launch of the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP), the successor programme to the EOCP, a new scheme to support community childcare services with a focus on disadvantage is being introduced with effect from 1 January 2008. The Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) has been allocated €153 million over the next 3 years representing a 16% increase in funding over the EOCP staffing scheme. Under the new scheme, services will be grant aided according to the service they provide and the profile of the parents benefiting from their service. In turn, the subvention received by the services will be reflected in the reduced fees for parents who qualify as disadvantaged under the scheme. Existing EOCP staffing grant recipients have been invited to apply directly to the OMC under the new scheme by 2nd November 2007. To facilitate them to adjust to the new scheme, transitional arrangements under which they will continue to be funded at their current levels until 1st July 2008, will apply.

As signalled when I announced the new scheme earlier this year, the transitional period between now and 1 July 2008 will also be used to monitor and review the impact it will have on individual groups, on the basis of the more detailed and comprehensive data which is due to be received from applicants in the coming weeks. If appropriate, any adjustments necessary to the scheme to secure the best outcomes for childcare services and for disadvantaged parents and their children will be considered on the basis of this data and well in advance of the commencement of the new funding levels in July 2008.