Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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255. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the capital funding he provided in his Estimates for 2016 towards the provision of new and upgraded child care facilities; if he will provide specific funding on a county basis; the level of funding he will provide for counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7695/16]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Capital funding of €4 million is being made available through the Early Years Capital Programme in 2016 for early years pre-school services, both private and not-for-profit/community, that are intending to expand their service to provide for more capacity in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. The maximum grant available under this programme is €10,000. The closing date for applications was 8 April 2016.

Pobal is responsible for the administration of this funding scheme on behalf of my Department. I have been advised by Pobal that an appraisal process is under way and that recommendations for approval of funding, in line with the published criteria, will be with my Department by early June. The award of funding will be based partially on evidence of current need and/or projected future demand for additional ECCE places in 2016-17 in the catchment area of each applying service. The relevant City or County Childcare Committee will assist Pobal with demand versus supply data. Value for money is also an awarding criteria and the costs/grant requested relative to the number of ECCE places being created will be taken into account when evaluating grant applications.

When this process is completed and grant funding is awarded, we will be in a position to announce the funding being made available on a county-by-county basis.