Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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824. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason there is a shortfall in funding for the crèche facility in an area of disadvantage (details supplied) in Dublin 17; his plans to bring a resolution to the shortfall in funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31400/14]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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835. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will reconsider the proposals made by an organisation (details supplied) in respect of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31672/14]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 824 and 835 together.

I refer the House to the reply of my immediate predecessor, Minister Flanagan, to Deputy McGrath on 9 July 2014 in this matter. It is a matter of record that the Centre at Darndale has been experiencing cash flow difficulties. The Centre incurred expenditure of €2.022m in 2013 and received funding amounting to €1.96m, resulting in a deficit of €62,000. Projections by the Centre show that income of approximately €1.8m is anticipated during 2014. With such a level of financial support available, it should be possible to work constructively to continue services and avoid the closure scenario that has been outlined by the Centre.

As Minister Flanagan indicated last week, senior representatives from the Child and Family Agency, Pobal, Dublin City Childcare Committee and representatives from the board and management of the Centre have met on a number of occasions to explore options available to ensure that the service can operate on a sustainable basis into the future within the allocated funding. A number of options were considered and to assist in this process, Dublin City Childcare Committee engaged the services of an external mentor to undertake an independent detailed analysis of the matter. In parallel, a wider examination will be undertaken of the level and range of early years services supported by the State in the Darndale/Belcamp/Moatview area generally.

The Child and Family Agency, as one of a number of State funders of the Centre, kindly agreed to make additional pre-payments to the end of August while the review was being conducted. I want to acknowledge the support of the Agency in this regard. The payments were in addition to previous pre-payments advanced by the Agency for May and June. The Agency stressed that this is as much as they are prepared to commit to while the process outlined above is continuing.

I understand that the external mentor has now completed a detailed analysis and review of the services provided. Officials from my Department are meeting today with representatives from the Child and Family Agency, Pobal and the Dublin City Childcare Committee, at which the Department will receive a briefing on the content of the report and the options available arising from the review process. I will be briefed by my officials arising from today's meeting and will consider the findings of the report.

I understand that the Board of the Centre is due to meet again on 17 July. The Centre last week reiterated its previously expressed view that it will be forced to close thereafter in the absence of additional funding. This is to be regretted, given that the final report was only made available yesterday, 14 July, 2014. Furthermore, I understand that the draft report prepared by the external mentor, and seen by the Centre, identified a number of actions that can be taken to create a sustainable model of service delivery within the resources currently available to the Centre.

In all of the circumstances I would hope that the constructive dialogue which has taken place over recent weeks between the parties will continue until all options have been jointly and fully discussed. I very much hope that a satisfactory outcome can be arrived at which will ensure the continued operation of the Centre within the significant funding levels available.