Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 541: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will consider the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the selection criteria adopted by Pobal for the childcare development grant; if she will take action to address the concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28136/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The maximum grant available was €50,000 (including VAT). The aim of the funding is to provide support to child care settings to address remedial, maintenance and renovation work or to purchase equipment. The programme, which was administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department,is a national programme and there was no geographical basis to the appraisal process. Each application was competing on its own merits with every other application received. In appraising the applications, particular consideration was given to Applications accompanied by a HSE pre-school inspection report supporting the need for the proposed works in terms of compliance with the Pre-School Regulations; Applications best demonstrating the need for the proposed works in terms, for example, of quality improvement to the child care service; Services previously funded under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme or the National Childcare Investment Programme; Services located in or servicing areas of disadvantage; and the service's record in relation to adherence to contractual obligations under previous capital and current funding programmes.

Following a robust appraisal of all applications received, 290 applications were approved for funding with the average amount approved being €21,000. Of the total number of applications approved 125 were from private child care facilities. Of the total amount approved, 63% was approved for renovation and expansion works, 25% was approved for the purchase of equipment, 11% was approved for maintenance works and 0.5% was approved in respect of professional fees associated with the capital works. The successful applications were those that represented the most complete, coherent, precise and compelling cases for funding. The investment has been directed, to the greatest extent possible, to addressing the most urgent works and supporting the quality of services making the greatest impact for disadvantaged children and communities. All applicants were notified by Pobal of the outcome and the Pobal website provides a facility for unsuccessful applicants to request by call-back, information to assist them in understanding the reasons for the outcome of their applications. I wish to point out to the Deputy that being in receipt of previous capital funding under the child care support programmes was only one element of the criteria considered when assessing the eligibility of applicants for grant support under this programme. The reason it was included was to safeguard the substantial investment already made by the State in child care infrastructure. The overall aim of the programme was to ensure that child care services were in a position to remain open and to deliver quality childhood care and education as required under the child care programmes.