Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 248: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when her office will request an application for capital grant funding under the National Child Care Investment Programme 2006 to 2010 by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 16 and send it to Pobal for examination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3122/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 — 2010 (NCIP), which will invest €575 million over five years, with €358 million of this in capital grant aid for childcare services.

Initially when seeking capital funding under the NCIP applicants approach the City/County Childcare Committees who assist in the development of applications and assess the local need for the project. When developed, the CCCs forward the application in a portfolio to Pobal, which is engaged to administer the grants, for their examination and assessment. Following Pobal's assessment of the application, it is forwarded to the Childcare Directorate of my Office for final consideration and recommendation to the Secretary General of the Department of Health and Children.

As the Deputy will be aware, the NCIP came into effect from 1 January 2006, with an allocation of €358 million for capital projects during the 5 year period of 2006 — 2010. This funding is allocated for each year subject to the rules governing capital expenditure and the multi-annual investment framework, which are conditions of the sanction given by the Department of Finance each year for capital expenditure, including expenditure under the NCIP. Due to the success of the programme to date, the approved ceiling in 2007 for capital commitments was reached in June. While capital projects continued to be processed during 2007, it was not possible to approve further capital project before January 2008. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the projects processed in 2007 were considered by the Secretary General in January 2008 and additional capital funding amounting to €39 million was approved.

With regard to the application for capital grant assistance under the NCIP referred to by the Deputy, I understand this is currently with the South Dublin County Childcare Committee and is expected to be submitted to Pobal as part of their June 2008 portfolio of capital projects. It is anticipated that a further €120 million in NCIP capital grants will be processed during 2008.