Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 497: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of applications under the recent childcare capital grant aid scheme that were received from County Laois; the number of such applications that were from the private sector as opposed to from the community; the reason no community funded scheme in County Laois was grant aided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30292/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In Budget 2012, the Government announced capital funding of €6m to fund a maintenance programme for childcare facilities. The programme was open to both community not-for-profit childcare facilities and private childcare facilities, that are currently participating in one of the three childcare programmes implemented by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA). The maximum grant available was €50,000 (including VAT). The aim of the funding is to provide support to childcare settings to address remedial, maintenance and renovation work, or to purchase equipment.

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 childcare facilities. Of the total amount approved, 63% was approved for renovation/expansion works, 25% was approved for the purchase of equipment, 11% for maintenance works, and 0.5% was in respect of professional fees associated with the capital works.

The figures available to my Department are broken down in line with the City and County Childcare Committee structures. The figures for Laois indicates that 56 applications were received from childcare providers in the county and that 4 of these applications were approved for funding. The total funding approved for these groups amounts to €110,357.

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.