Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1440. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 402 of 12 July 2017, if she will refer to the submission from a charity (details supplied) as mentioned in a previous parliamentary question. [35835/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Department notes that you have requested clarification regarding a specific proposal to establish a childcare and family support service in the Longford area. The Department can confirm that it has received the proposal you refer to, and has conducted a review of its contents.

The Department acknowledges the ambition and scope of the proposed project, which would involve the provision of childcare and additional support services through a Family Resource Centre (FRC). The Department is willing to liaise with Tusla regarding matters pertaining to the establishment and continued funding of FRC’s, of which they represent the primary funding body. However, our immediate concern remains the establishment of an Early Years service in this area. In this respect, the Department has identified that the proposal we have received does not contain a sufficiently comprehensive business plan for the operation of a childcare service – in particular considering the level of funding requested (€878,789).

DCYA's current priority is to provide a childcare service in this area. Unfortunately, a proposal purely in this respect has yet to be forthcoming.