Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 190: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to a reply to correspondence from a person (details supplied), if she has received a response from the Health Service Executive regarding funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25282/08]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that in my response to him of the 28th May 2008, I advised him that my Office had forwarded information in regard to the project referred to by him to the Director of the Office of Disabilities and Mental Health in the Department of Health and Children. However, at present, I understand that Office has no funding available to support this project.

Under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 -2010 (NCIP), for which I have responsibility, both capital and current grant funding is available to support the development of childcare facilities in both the community (not for profit) and private sectors. It is a requirement that childcare services which are funded under the NCIP are accessible to children with disabilities. As the Deputy will be aware, services open to the public must make reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities under the provisions of the Equal Status Acts 2000-2004. However, there is no provision under the NCIP to provide additional, more specialised supports, for children with disabilities in childcare facilities.