Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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509. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if funding assistance will be provided to an organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23304/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides approximately €260 million annually to early years and school-age care and education services. This funding is directed towards a number of programmes which aim to improve the accessibility, affordability and quality of early years and school-age care and education.

I understand that this service is participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme which provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children before commencing primary school. The funding provided is based on the number of eligible children enrolled for the Programme and the level of service provided. Funding totalling €28,500, due to the service under this Programme for 2014/15, has been paid.

There are a number of other support programmes implemented by my Department which provide targeted funding and in which private early years services can participate if they have eligible children enrolled. Fingal County Childcare Committee will advise services on the eligibility criteria for these programmes.

There is no funding available to my Department outside of these programmes to support early years services and there is no specific funding available to fund early years services that provide programmes through the Irish language.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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510. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the correspondence in respect of the Bethany Bereavement Support Group (details supplied) in Dublin 5 and the cancellation of its funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23338/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Since its establishment, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has been engaged in a comprehensive and much needed programme of reform across our child welfare and protection system. In this regard, Tusla must ensure that it makes the most effective use of its resources in a way that is efficient, equitable proportionate and sustainable.

Tusla's budget is now being directed towards services which are best aligned to those outcomes in Tusla's Corporate Plan, with priority being given to front line services.

The service referred to by the Deputy was in receipt of funding from Tusla but unfortunately, Tusla is not in a position to continue to fund this service.

Tusla very much appreciates the work undertaken by the group in question over the years.