Written answers
Thursday, 11 December 2008
Department of Health and Children
Child Care Services
8:00 pm
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the amount of money recouped from private child care providers in County Meath who received a grant to develop and operate a child care facility and who subsequently ceased to operate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45795/08]
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the individual grants given to private child care providers in County Meath from 2003 to date in 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45826/08]
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the private child care facilities which received a grant in the period 2003 to 2008 in County Meath and which no longer operate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45827/08]
Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the procedure for recoupment of public moneys in County Meath when a private child care provider who has received a public grant ceases to operate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45828/08]
Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 121 to 123, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy is aware, I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) which has a total allocation of €575m, of which €358m is in respect of capital funding, and €217m is in respect of current funding. The NCIP is the successor programme to the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) which concluded at the end of 2007. The EOCP was, and the NCIP is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department.
The status details in relation to 15 of the applicants is shown as "pre-contract". In the first ten of these cases, funding has been approved in principle, but the applicants are currently undergoing a pre-contract process and no payments have been made to date. In the final five of these cases, funding was approved in principle, but these applicants did not proceed to contract and the approvals were formally decommitted. No payments were made in these cases, and therefore the question of recoupment did not arise.
In relation to the applicants shown under the heading "Decommitment of unspent/unpaid funding", the first applicant was approved a grant of €75,000, but only spent a total of €69,919. The balance of €5,081 was formally decommitted but, as this amount had not been paid to the applicant, the question of recoupment did not arise. The second applicant was approved a grant of €1,175. This amount issued to the applicant, but was returned unspent. There was no recovery process initiated.
The decommittal and recovery of approved funding can arise where an applicant either does not proceed to contract, or is in breach of contract.
All applicants for funding under the EOCP and the NCIP were/are obliged to enter into a contract with Pobal in relation to the provision of the childcare service. The contracts provide that the facility must remain in operation for a certain number of years following receipt of the final instalment of the grant. The number of years varies from two years to seven years, depending on the amount of the grant approved, as follows:
| EOCP | NCIP | ||
| Up to €19,044 | 2 years | Up to €30,000 | 2 years |
| €19,045 – €36,821 | 5 years | €30,001 – €70,000 | 5 years |
| €36,822 – €50,790 | 7 years | €70,001 – €100,000 | 7 years |
Until the final instalment of the grant is received, the provider is obliged to regularly report and account for all expenditure incurred. Once this process has been concluded, the provider is required to complete an annual Confirmation of Continued Service document until his or her contractual obligations are fulfilled, i.e. for the requisite number of years as laid down in his or her contract.
Pobal would not normally be made aware of cases where a facility ceases to operate following the completion of the provider's contractual obligations. Therefore, Pobal is not aware of any private childcare providers in County Meath who received a grant to develop and operate a childcare facility since 2003 and who subsequently ceased to operate within the term of their contract.
The following table provides details of the funding approved for 50 individual private childcare providers in Meath since the beginning of 2003:
| Private Providers Approved Childcare Funding in Meath 01 January 2003-08 December 2008 | |||||
| Date Funding Approved: | Applicant Name / Facility Name | Status | Amount Approved | Decommitment (if applicable) | Net Amount Approved |
| € | € | ||||
| 07/07/2006 | Alison Hickey / NCIP Alison Hickey | Funding paid | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 22/06/2005 | Angel Faces Creche / Angel Faces Creche — Glen Abhainn | Funding paid | 35,000 | n/a | 35,000 |
| 13/10/2005 | Angel Faces Creche / Angel Faces Creche — Innwood | Funding paid | 35,000 | n/a | 35,000 |
| 13/10/2005 | Bambinos Creche & Montessori / Bambinos Creche & Montessori | Funding paid | 50,790 | n/a | 50,790 |
| 07/07/2006 | Coole Montessori School / NCIP Coole Montessori School | Funding paid | 33,750 | n/a | 33,750 |
| 21/07/2003 | Deanhill Montessori School / Deanhill Montessori School | Funding paid | 50,790 | n/a | 50,790 |
| 25/09/2006 | Geri's Montessori / NCIP Geri's Montessori | Funding paid | 3,750 | n/a | 3,750 |
| 04/02/2008 | Giraffe Childcare Ltd / NCIP Giraffe Childcare & Early Learning Centre (Navan) | Funding paid | 40,000 | n/a | 40,000 |
| 04/02/2008 | Hopscotch Creche and Montessori Limited / NCIP Hopscotch Creche and Montessori | Funding paid | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 04/02/2008 | Karen Keane / NCIP Karen Keane | Funding paid | 45,000 | n/a | 45,000 |
| 27/03/2003 | Karen McGovern / Mother Hubbards Childcare (Blackcastle Demesne) | Funding paid | 50,790 | n/a | 50,790 |
| 07/03/2007 | Karen McGovern / NCIP Mother Hubbards Creche (Flower Hill) | Funding paid | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 05/09/2003 | Kentstown Montessori School / Kentstown Montessori School | Funding paid | 50,790 | n/a | 50,790 |
| 10/05/2006 | Kidz of the Manor / NCIP Kidz of the Manor | Funding paid | 58,650 | n/a | 58,650 |
| 25/09/2006 | Lisa Mallan / NCIP Acorn Academy | Funding paid | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 07/07/2006 | Mammy Day Care / NCIP Mammy Day Care | Funding paid | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 15/12/2006 | Marion Guckian / NCIP Kilcoon Preschool | Funding paid | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 12/12/2005 | Mornington Montessori Creche & Afterschools Club / Aspiration's | Funding paid | 50,790 | n/a | 50,790 |
| 10/05/2006 | Oasis Childcare Centre / NCIP Oasis Childcare Centre | Funding paid | 51,736 | n/a | 51,736 |
| 15/12/2006 | Pear Tree Cottage / NCIP Pear Tree Cottage | Funding paid | 26,250 | n/a | 26,250 |
| 10/06/2004 | Rugrats Academy / Rugrats Academy | Funding paid | 50,790 | n/a | 50,790 |
| 07/03/2003 | Sandy's Childcare Ltd / Sandys Nursery & Montessori Playschool (Dunshaughlin 1) | Funding paid | 50,000 | n/a | 50,000 |
| 21/01/2003 | Sandy's Childcare Ltd / Sandys Nursery & Montessori Playschool (Navan) | Funding paid | 50,000 | n/a | 50,000 |
| Private Providers Approved Childcare Funding in Meath 01 January 2003-08 December 2008 — continued | |||||
| Date Funding Approved: | Applicant Name / Facility Name | Status | Amount Approved | Decommitment (if applicable) | Net Amount Approved |
| € | € | ||||
| 24/03/2006 | Scallywags Playgroup & Afterschool Service / NCIP Scallywags Playgroup & Afterschool Service | Funding paid | 35,111 | n/a | 35,111 |
| 18/12/2006 | Seagrave Montessori / NCIP Seagrave Montessori | Funding paid | 9,750 | n/a | 9,750 |
| 27/03/2003 | Simonstown Preschool and Playschool / Simonstown Preschool and Playschool | Funding paid | 8,532 | n/a | 8,532 |
| 11/08/2006 | Stamullen Academy of Childcare Ltd / NCIP Stamullen Academy of Childcare Ltd | Funding paid | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 07/07/2006 | The Belfry Creche & Montessori / NCIP The Belfry Creche & Montessori | Funding paid | 29,361 | n/a | 29,361 |
| 15/06/2006 | The Glebe Creche Limited / NCIP The Glebe Creche Limited | Funding paid | 47,072 | n/a | 47,072 |
| 11/08/2006 | The Kilberry School of Montessori / NCIP The Kilberry School of Montessori | Funding paid | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 26/08/2004 | The Montessori Story / The Montessori Story (Kells) | Funding paid | 50,790 | n/a | 50,790 |
| 10/05/2006 | The Schoolhouse Montessori / NCIP The Schoolhouse Montessori | Funding paid | 37,331 | n/a | 37,331 |
| 15/12/2006 | Tir na Nog Highscope / NCIP Tir Na Nog Highscope | Funding paid | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 16/10/2003 | Tir Na nOg T/A. Clann Lir Childcare / Tir Na nOgT/A. Clann Lir Childcare | Funding paid | 50,790 | n/a | 50,790 |
| 25/09/2006 | Tom & Anne O'Gorman / NCIP Elderdale Montessori & Afterschool | Funding paid | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 05/09/2003 | Tom & Anne O'Gorman / Tom & Anne O'Gorman | Funding paid | 50,790 | n/a | 50,790 |
| 14/01/2004 | Windmill Nursery & Montessori School / Windmill Nursery & Montessori School | Funding paid | 50,790 | n/a | 50,790 |
| 18/10/2008 | ACE Childcare Ltd / NCIP Ard Cluin Creche | Pre-contract | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 26/04/2007 | Aideen Newport / NCIP Aideen's Cute 'n' Clever Kids | Pre-contract | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 18/10/2008 | Care Bears Playgroup / NCIP Care Bears Playgroup | Pre-contract | 11,388 | n/a | 11,388 |
| 04/02/2008 | Fiona Tierney / NCIP Fiona Tierney | Pre-contract | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 04/02/2008 | Gortwella Creche / NCIP Gortwella Creche | Pre-contract | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| Private Providers Approved Childcare Funding in Meath 01 January 2003-08 December 2008 — continued | |||||
| Date Funding Approved: | Applicant Name / Facility Name | Status | Amount Approved | Decommitment (if applicable) | Net Amount Approved |
| € | € | ||||
| 04/02/2008 | Hilltop Creche & Montessori / NCIP Hilltop Creche & Montessori | Pre-contract | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 18/10/2008 | Kids Klubs / NCIP Kids Klubs | Pre-contract | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 18/10/2008 | Little Acorns / NCIP Little Acorns | Pre-contract | 100,000 | n/a | 100,000 |
| 04/02/2008 | Nicola Maguire / NCIP Little Buddies Playgroup & Montessori | Pre-contract | 90,000 | n/a | 90,000 |
| 23/10/2006 | Vickette Ltd. / NCIP The Willows Creche & Montessori | Pre-contract | 40,000 | n/a | 40,000 |
| Did Not Proceed to Contract: | |||||
| 27/03/2003 | June Fegan / Dolly Dimples | Pre-contract | 50,790 | -50,790 | 0 |
| 20/11/2003 | Tir na nOg Childcare Service / Tir na nOg Childcare Service | Pre-contract | 6,455 | -6,455 | 0 |
| 25/09/2006 | Yellow Furze Montessori School / NCIP Yellow Furze Montessori School | Pre-contract | 100,000 | -100,000 | 0 |
| 15/12/2006 | Anne Byrne / NCIP Buzzy Bees | Pre-contract | 3,000 | -3,000 | 0 |
| 07/03/2007 | Jigsaw Creche Limited / NCIP Jigsaw Creche (Dunboyne) | Pre-contract | 100,000 | -100,000 | 0 |
| Decommitment of Unspent/ Unpaid Funding Only: | |||||
| 25/09/2006 | Rainbow Lane Limited / NCIP Rainbow Lane Limited | Funding paid | 75,000 | -5,081 | 69,919 |
| 25/09/2006 | Forever Friends / NCIP Forever Friends* | Funding paid | 1,175 | In process | 1,175 |
| Applicants: 50 | Totals: | 3,282,001 | -265,326 | 3,016,675 | |
| *This applicant has returned its unspent funding paid to Pobal. | |||||
| Key: | |||||
| Pre-contract: Funding 'indicatively' approved only — no payments made to date. | |||||
| Funding paid: Some or all of the amount approved has been paid to the applicant concerned. |
Question No. 108 answered with Question No. 90.
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