Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when a grant will be awarded under the equal opportunities childcare programme 2000 to 2006 and the national childcare investment programme 2006 to 2010 to a club (details supplied) in County Limerick. [29506/07]

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.

The Group in question has been approved €18,623 in capital grant assistance under the EOCP to date. They have also been approved a total of €215,865 in staffing grant assistance under the EOCP, including €80,700 for the period to 31 December 2007. The Group requested a review of their current level of staffing grant support, and this was undertaken by Pobal, who administer the grants on behalf of the Office of the Minister for Children. Following this review, the Group's request was considered by the Programme Appraisal Committee (PAC), which did not recommend additional funding for the Group, as their current level staffing grant is deemed appropriate for the level of service being provided.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the Group in question has been approved funding under the NCIP Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS), and a letter of approval has issued this week from the Childcare Directorate of my Office for the period January 2008 to December 2010. This funding will, for the first six months of 2008, be based on the level of funding currently being provided to the Group under the existing grant scheme and subject to the necessary contractual arrangement with Pobal, who manage the day to day operation of the EOCP and NCIP. The position in regard to the amount of grant funding for the period July to December 2008 will be communicated to the Group in due course.