Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Health and Children when capital funding will be made available for a company (details supplied) to provide child care facilities; and if she will ensure that they are included on the new community hospital site as agreed with the Health Service Executive. [29568/09]

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) 2000 - 2006 under which capital grant funding is made available to community and commercial childcare providers for the development of childcare 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 grant applicants, including the applicant referred to by the Deputy, that no further applications were being approved and that the programme was closed to additional applications. Existing capital commitments will continue to be processed during 2009 and 2010.

I understand that three local childcare services amalgamated into the company referred to by the Deputy and applied for capital funding for a new purpose built childcare facility. As stated above, the decision not to approve funding in this case was made having regard to the constraints currently placed on new capital commitments under the NCIP and is not related to any developments which may be under consideration by the Health Service Executive.

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.