Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 537: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide necessary funding to an organisation (details supplied). [15882/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the Deputy is seeking to have capital grant funding made available to the service in question to enable it to enhance its existing premises.

I have responsibility for the implementation of the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) which included a capital grant programme to develop childcare facilities. Under the NCIP capital funding was made available to community and commercial mainstream childcare providers for the development and refurbishment of childcare facilities. I regret to advise the Deputy that, due to the economic downturn, it was necessary for a review of capital expenditure to be undertaken in early 2009. As a result, the programme was closed to capital grant applications at that time.

While capital funding continues to be available to my Department in 2011, this funding is required to meet existing NCIP capital grant commitments. I regret, therefore, that funding is not available under the programme at this time.