Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 103: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if there is special grant assistance available for individuals seeking to provide Montessori places or other preschool initiatives for children with special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40488/08]

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 is implemented by the Office of the Minister for Children and which will invest €575 million over five years in the development of child care services.

The NCIP came into effect in January 2006 and has a target of creating 50,000 new child care places, supported by capital grant aid. Services eligible for support include those providing care for babies, full-day care, part-time, sessional playschool, and other pre-school services, school age child care including "wrap-around" child care places and childminding. While child care facilities supported under the programme are expected to provide a reasonable level of care for all children availing of their services, there is no provision under the NCIP to provide additional financial supports for children with disabilities in child care facilities.