Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 335: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if an application has been approved for a grant towards the provision of child care facilities at a location (details supplied) in County Donegal; the position regarding same and when it is expected the facility will be completed. [5143/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I have responsibility for the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 - 2010, under which capital grant funding is made available to community and commercial childcare providers for the development of childcare facilities.

In 2009, the group in question received capital grant approval of €600,000 under the NCIP. However, capital grant approvals under the NCIP are subject to satisfactory completion of all NCIP pre-contractual requirements including meeting the relevant timeframes which apply. I understand from Pobal, who assist my Office in implementing the NCIP, that the Group has not yet met these requirements. All NCIP capital grant applications must be at contract stage by 31 March 2010 and Pobal are currently working with the group to help them meet this deadline. I am not in a position to comment on whether or not the deadline will be met or on a completion date for the project.