Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if community based homework clubs will be considered for funding under the national child care investment programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19818/08]

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 will invest €575 million over 5 years in developing childcare services. The NCIP came into effect in January 2006 and aims to provide a proactive response to the development of quality childcare supports and services, which are grounded in an understanding of local needs. It is building on the success of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) and has a target of creating 50,000 new childcare places supported by capital grant aid of which will include 5,000 after school places and 10,000 pre-school education places aimed at 3 to 4 year olds.

Services eligible for support include those providing care for babies, full-day care, part-time, sessional playschool and other pre-school places, school age childcare which includes homework clubs, and childminding. Special consideration is given to supporting services which provide a range of these services. Application for support should, in the first instance, be made to City and County Childcare Committees.