Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when an application for a Montessori school will be finalised and funding advanced to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22453/09]

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 (NCIP) 2006-2010 under which capital grant funding is made available to community and commercial child care providers for the development of child care facilities.

With the economic downturn Government expenditure, particularly in the area of new capital commitments, was reviewed earlier this year. As a result, with the exception of a limited number of projects, it was necessary to inform all NCIP capital grants applicants, including the applicant referred to by the Deputy, that the programme was closed to additional applications. Existing capital commitments will continue to be processed during 2009 and 2010. The City and County Childcare Committees will be advised by my Office if and when additional capital funding becomes available to my Office in 2011 and 2012.