Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the budgetary changes to the national child care investment programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39216/08]

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 was launched in 2006 with a total allocation of €575 million of which €358 was in respect of capital grant aid for childcare services.

Approximately €216 million of the programme's remaining capital allocation was expected to be allocated during the 2009 and 2010, the final years of the programme as originally proposed. In line with the recently announced budgetary changes and their impact on capital expenditure under the National Development Programme 2007-2013, it is understood that the NCIP's remaining capital allocation is being rescheduled to coincide with the full term of the NDP. In 2009, a capital allocation of €60 million is expected to be made. Given the length of time which it can take for many large-scale capital childcare projects to develop from the initial project stage to contract and drawdown of funding, this approach is expected to facilitate applicants and maximise programme spending. The NCIP's current funding allocation in 2009 has been maintained at its 2008 level, that is a total of €73.578 million.