Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the funding provided in each of the past seven years for all residential care placements for child care services; the funding for 2008; the corresponding figure for residential placements of separated children seeking asylum; the number of children and family social workers in each year in question and the corresponding figure for those working with separated children seeking asylum; the number of all reports, including child abuse and child welfare, to social work departments in each year in question and the corresponding figure for separated children seeking asylum; the number which required an initial assessment regarding possible abuse and an initial assessment regarding child welfare in each year and the corresponding figure for separated children seeking asylum; the number of cases which have been unallocated to social workers in each year and the corresponding figure for separated children seeking asylum; the number of children in residential care in each year in question and the corresponding figure for separated children seeking asylum; the corresponding numbers placed in foster care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19563/08]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy's question relates to the management and delivery of health and social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will make a commitment that a centre (details supplied) in Dublin 10 will be provided with sufficient funding to ensure that in September 2008 it can become fully operational hiring more staff and opening its doors to more children. [18863/08]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, 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 replaced the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP), which was also administered by my Office. I understand that the Group in question received capital funding totalling €1.16 million under the EOCP and, as a result, has recently entered their new building.

The Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS) under the NCIP was introduced by my Office in January of this year and has an allocation of €154.2 million over three years. This Scheme will continue to support community-based childcare services to provide reduced childcare fees for disadvantaged parents, complementing the universal supports in place for all parents. The Group in question has been approved under the CCSS for transitional funding for the period January-June 2008 of €37,375. I understand that they received their first instalment of this grant on 22 February.

Community childcare services qualify for grant aid on the basis of the level of service they provide and the profile of the parents benefiting from their service. In general, the parent profile of services, and the amount of subvention they will receive, are determined on the basis of completed parent declaration forms which are returned as part of the application process. However, in the case of some specialist services, such as that operated by the Group in question, it is recognised that some additional arrangements may be necessary. Officials from my Office have been in correspondence and discussions with the manager of the service in this regard.

I am pleased to inform you that the service has been approved CCSS funding of €107,640 for the period July to December 2008. This level of funding is guaranteed for the start-up period of July-December 2008 and the level of funding for 2009 will be reviewed in the context of the level of service provided from September 2008. The Childcare Directorate of my Office has notified the Group of this decision.