Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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901. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will take to support the reopening of a child care centre (details supplied). [24274/16]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Since early 2015, my Department has supported intensive engagement with Pobal and Longford County Childcare Committee to maintain childcare provision in the service in question. Unfortunately, following an EGM of the board in March 2016, my Department was informed of the intention to proceed with an orderly wind-down of the service.

My Department recognises that the service in question provides childcare support for children from a disadvantaged background, and understands that the closure of this service will cause difficulties for parents and children who use the service. My Department notes that the interim management of this service and Longford County Childcare Committee have both indicated that this service could have been sustainable, were it not for legacy debt and governance issues. The establishment of a new Community Childcare Service here would provide the opportunity for a new start for the facility. My Department is keen to see a new service established as soon as possible and is prepared to work constructively with stakeholders to develop a plan for the provision of sustainable childcare services to the impacted families.

Whilst my Department is very keen to assist with a solution, my Department does not have authority to provide exceptional funding to a private childcare provider over and above the programme funding that would be due for the provision of childcare places under the Early Childhood care and Education (ECCE), Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) and Community childcare Subvention (CCS) programmes.

My Department and Pobal are continuing to engage with Longford CCC in relation to McEoin Park and the re-establishment of a service for the local community. Proposals were requested from a number of existing community based services in May 2016 and while none were forthcoming at that time Pobal and Longford CCC are still pursuing options locally in relation to the reopening of a service on the site.