Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

269. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide funding in the form of an early childhood care and education scheme capital grant to a group (details supplied). [20055/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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. Pobal has conducted the appraisal process and the recommendations of this process for approval of funding, in line with the published criteria, are currently being reviewed by my Department. The award of funding will be based partially on evidence of current need and/or projected future demand for additional ECCE places in 2016/2017 in the catchment area of each applying service. The relevant City/County Childcare Committee have assisted 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. Grant agreements will be issued to successful applicants in July 2016. The date by which a service's grant and own funds must be fully spent and reported to Pobal is 31st December 2016.

Since the deadline for receipt of applications under the Early Years Capital programme 2016, Pobal have appraised over 1,000 applications and presented their findings to officials in my Department. These recommendations are now under consideration in the Department and the outcome of these applications will be processed shortly. Operating a grant scheme in such a tight timescale has been a significant challenge, but it was decided to proceed given the urgent needs of childcare providers.

I can confirm that a grant application from the service in question has been received and is currently in the review process. Once the Department has reviewed Pobal's recommendations, decisions will be communicated to providers without delay.