Question 226: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the position in regard to an application to Pobal by a committee (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46517/08]

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 will invest €575 million over 5 years, with €358 million of this in capital grant aid for childcare services.

I understand that the service in question was initially approved capital grant funding under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000 — 2006 in November 2005. This grant was decommitted and transferred to the NCIP as the applicant could not proceed to contract at that time. As the applicant could not secure a lease agreement in the time required under the NCIP, the funding was decommitted again in August 2008. This decision was appealed however, given that the applicant had not secured a lease for the project, the original decision to decommit funding was deemed appropriate.

I also understand that Greencastle Community Childcare Centre has submitted a further capital grant application for €680,821 and that this application is currently in the appraisal process. A decision on this application will be made in due course following which the applicant will be notified of the outcome.