Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 172: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a centre (details supplied) in County Cork will receive funding for a community child care centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19258/09]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) is implemented by my Office. Capital grant applications under the NCIP are processed in the first instance by the City and County Childcare Committees and are then forwarded to Pobal, who assist my Office in the day to day implementation of the programme, before being submitted for decision. A significant number of capital grant applications, including that of the applicant in question, were due to be considered for approval in the latter part of 2008.

As the Deputy will be aware it became necessary at that point to review Government expenditure, particularly in regard to new expenditure commitments. This process was finalised last month and all capital grant applicants under the NCIP were advised that funding could not be approved at this point under the programme. The capital allocation available to the NCIP is sufficient to meet existing capital grant commitments but is not expected to allow for the approval of any additional grant applications in 2009 or 2010.