Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason the Health Service Executive deducted the ECCE Grant for pre-school children from a child care centre (details supplied) in Dublin 11 particularly in view of the fact that no additional funding, such as parent's fees, was received by the centre; the further reason deductions were also made to the projected budget thereby reducing grant assistance twice; if the matter will be investigated and the grant assistance restored to this service. [19511/10]

Barry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I have responsibility for implementing the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) scheme, which was introduced in January of this year.

I understand that the childcare facility referred to by the Deputy is participating in the new ECCE scheme and that to date capitation funding in the region of €95,000 has been allocated by my Office to the facility to enable it to provide the free pre-school year. As the query relates to the withdrawal of funding previously received by the service from the Health Service Executive (HSE), I asked for enquiries to be made in this matter. However, I wish to advise the Deputy that due to industrial action affecting the HSE it is not possible for the Executive to supply the information requested. If this matter remains of continuing concern to you, however, I would invite you to raise it with me again in due course.