Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 288: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm having received correspondence from an organisation (details supplied); her views on whether the inclusion of community facilities is very important in the overall regeneration and integral to the project both in terms of sustainability and design; if she will reconsider the decision to abolish capital grants for the provision of child care facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18279/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006-2010 is implemented by my Office with the assistance of Pobal, who manage the day to day operation of the programme. As the Deputy may be aware, the finalisation of the latest portfolio of capital grant applications, under the NCIP, was delayed pending the introduction of the recent Supplementary Budget. Following decisions in the budget the capital allocation now available for 2009/2010 will meet existing capital grant commitments but will not be sufficient to allow for the approval of any additional grant applications. It is therefore not possible to approve the grant application for the group referred to by the Deputy at this time. A letter has issued to the group advising them of this outcome.