Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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562. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his intention regarding the provision of funding for the Happy Talk project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20012/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The funding available to my Department for the early years sector is committed to a number of childcare support programmes which assist parents in accessing quality and affordable childcare. More than 100,000 children benefit from an investment of approximately €260 million each year. There is a significant demand from parents for childcare support under these programmes and the challenge for my Department is to maintain the present levels of support and remain within the budgetary allocation.

While I acknowledge that the Happy Talk Project is a very worthwhile proposal, I regret that there is currently no funding available to my Department which would allow support for initiatives such as that outlined by the Deputy.