Vol. 541 No. 2
955 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare for a grant for child care providers at a crèche in Straffan, County Kildare; when this will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22383/01]
As the Deputy may be aware, capital grant schemes for self-employed private providers of child care are part of the Government childcare funding initiatives administered under my Department's Equal Opportunities Child Care programme 2000 to 2006. I have been informed by the equal opportunities child care section of my Department that a completed application form for a capital grant was received from the person in question on 29 June 2001. Funding was sought towards the cost of constructing and equipping a new pre-school facility. I understand from my officials that this capital grant application was forwarded to Area Development Management Limited on 4 July 2001. A technical assessment of this application will be carried out by ADM Limited prior to referral to the Programme Appraisal Committee. I have requested an update from ADM Limited and have been advised that a development officer was recently assigned to carry out an assessment prior to referral to the Programme Appraisal Committee. Once the assessment and appraisal process is complete, I will make a decision shortly thereafter. In the interim, it would be premature of me to comment further on the application.
