Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Question 676: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount and value of the recent allocation of childcare funding that was awarded to facilities in County Kildare; the way this compares with other areas of the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36279/12]

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 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 Kildare indicates that 5 applications were approved for funding. The total funding approved for these groups amounts to € 92,764.

The successful applications were those that represented the most complete, coherent, precise and compelling cases for funding. The investment is not allocated on a geographical basis but 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.