Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 125: To ask the Minister for Finance the reason a facility (details supplied) in County Clare is closing; if he will reconsider this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24100/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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In Budget 2001, the Minister for Finance allocated €12.7m for the provision of crèches for the children of civil servants throughout Ireland. The Board of the Civil Service Childcare Initiative operates the Initiative on behalf of the Minister. It advises the Minister on the provision of crèches, on the allocation of contracts to operators to run the crèches and retains an overall supervisory role in relation to the crèches, on behalf of the Minister. The Board is chaired by the Department of Finance and has representatives from the Department of Finance, the staff unions and a childcare expert.

Ennis Crèche opened in October 2003 under an initial operator whose two year contract was not renewed. Despite the holding of two tendering processes in November 2005 and February 2007, it was not possible to appoint a permanent operator. To facilitate the persons using the crèche, the Board maintained the crèche in operation in this period through a number of temporary arrangements. However, in the view of the Board, it is vital to the long term viable future of the crèche and for maintenance of standards and quality of childcare, that a permanent operator is appointed.

To that end a third tendering process took place in January 2008. The Board is in continuing discussions with a potential operator with a view to their taking over operation of the crèche for a five year period with effect from 1 October 2008.

As the current temporary arrangement comes to an end on 30 June 2008 parents of children in the crèche were individually advised that the Ennis crèche will close from 30 June 2008, and of the discussions to appoint a permanent operator from October. Two of the support team have also been in place at the crèche to offer support and advice to both parents and staff.