Minister for Children announces almost €12 million in additional grants for the development and support of the childcare sector
62 projects to benefit from almost € 12 million childcare support
24 March 2006
The Minister for Children, Mr. Brian Lenihan, T.D., announced today almost € 11 million in capital grant assistance and over €1 million in staffing grant assistance to childcare providers.
Sixty two childcare providers, which include a mix of both community based and private childcare providers, will benefit from this funding.
The Minister was pleased to report that total funding committed under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP) to mid February 2006 is projected to create over 40,000 new childcare places, as well as leading to the enhancement of over 32,000 existing places. By the end of June 2005, some 26,000 of the new childcare places were already in place as a result of the expenditure to date.
Minister Lenihan said the Government had given a clear mandate for expansion of the childcare sector with ambitious targets for the next 5 years, including the creation of 50,000 new childcare places to meet identified local needs, not just in terms of numbers but also in terms of the specific needs for pre-school services, school age childcare and wrap around services for children and parents. While meeting the targets will require careful planning and incremental development, Minister Lenihan said he was confident that the new National Childcare Strategy has given him the necessary tools to deliver them through the major National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 of €575 million and the bringing together of the key areas of children's services under a single new Office of the Minister for Children
An information note for editors on the National Childcare Investment Programme and Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme is appended.
A list of the applicants receiving funding under today's announcement is attached below.
| Group Name | County | Service Address | Amount (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tullow Childcare Association | Carlow | 29 Abbey View, Tullow, Co. Carlow | 1,400,000 |
| Drumlane Community Partnership | Cavan | Milltown, Belturbet, Co. Cavan | 187,120 |
| The Childrens House | Cavan | 47-48 Ashbrooke Manor, Moynehall, Cavan | 73,127 |
| Bright Sparks Montessori School | Cork | 85 Beech Road, Muskerry Estate, Ballincollig, Co. Cork | 9,369 |
| Cobh Family Resource Centre Ltd. | Cork | Park House, Cloyne Terrace, Cobh, Co. Cork | 42,469 |
| Holyhill/Knocknaheeny Family Centre | Cork | Harbour View Road, Knocknaheeny, Cork | 487,784 |
| Mahon Community Crèche & Child Development Centre | Cork | Unit 5,6 & 7 Community Resource Centre, Avenue de Rennes, Mahon, Cork | 166,693 |
| Shelly's Childminding Service | Donegal | 5 Logan Close, Ludden, Buncrana, Co. Donegal | 13,500 |
| Appletree Crèche & Montessori | Dublin | 10 Leinster Square, Rathmines, Dublin 6 | 100,000 |
| Coiste Naíonra Mológa, Grainne, Marjorie, Treasa & Deirdre | Dublin | Scoil Mológa, Bóthar Clarville, Baile Atha Cliath 6W | 80,269 |
| First Steps Pre-School | Dublin | 2 Huxley Crescent, Off Cork Street, Dublin 8 | 78,965 |
| Lucan Institute of Further Education | Dublin | Esker Hill, Lucan, Co. Dublin | 1,000,000 |
| The Learning Curve | Dublin | 21 Bellevue Avenue, Glenageary, Co. Dublin | 15,314 |
| The Little Children's Centre | Dublin | St. Anne's Primary School, Fettercairn, Tallaght, Dublin 24 | 786,000 |
| Treehouse Childcare (Clonsilla) | Dublin | Allendale Walk, Allendale, Clonsilla, Dublin 15 | 60,239 |
| Treehouse Childcare (Donabate) | Dublin | Ballisk Court, Donabate, Co. Dublin | 48,471 |
| Busy Bees | Galway | 42 Riverwalk, Gort, Co. Galway | 20,925 |
| Renvyle Childcare Committee | Galway | Derryherbert, Letterfrack, Co. Galway | 600,000 |
| The Trinity Den | Galway | Mervue National School, Galway | 86,178 |
| Tír na nÓg | Galway | Ballylara, Ardrahan, Co. Galway | 30,000 |
| Bernie Willis | Kerry | Cromane Lower, Killorglin, Co. Kerry | 25,605 |
| Comhlacht Óige Lispóil Teo | Kerry | Gráig, Lispóil, Co. Chiarraí | 505,000 |
| Little Treasures | Kerry | Sive House, Old Road, Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry | 18,245 |
| Smarty's Montessori | Kerry | Scart, Gortatlea, Ballymacelligott, Tralee, Co. Kerry | 41,868 |
| Ardreigh Childcare Centre | Kildare | Ardreigh, Athy, Co. Kildare | 52,500 |
| Busy Fingers Crèche Ltd. | Kildare | Corbally, Newbridge, Co. Kildare | 100,000 |
| Loughboy Area Resource Centre | Kilkenny | Bishop Birch Training Institute, Nuncio Road, Kilkenny | 1,400,000 |
| Ballymorris Pre-school Committee | Laois | c/o Presentation Sisters, Ballymorris Road, Portarlington, Co. Laois | 11,000 |
| Caherelly Kids | Limerick | Caherelly, Grange, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick | 80,848 |
| Hospital Family Resource Centre Ltd. (Kids Klub Committee) | Limerick | Knockainey Road, Hospital, Co. Limerick | 14,800 |
| Presentation Preschool (Limerick) | Limerick | Sexton Street, Limerick | 175,000 |
| Sunflowers Community Preschool | Limerick | Old CBS, Monastery Road, Doon. Co. Limerick | 19,295 |
| Harmony House Ltd. (Tir na nOg) | Longford | Lanna Aoibhinn Resource Centre, Longford | 30,840 |
| Mary Harvey | Longford | 16 Dún Darrach, Dublin Road, Longford | 100,000 |
| Cliara Development Company Ltd. | Mayo | c/o Community Centre, Clare Island, Co. Mayo | 53,557 |
| County Meath VEC Childcare Group | Meath | Administrative Offices, Meath VEC, Abbey Road, Navan, Co. Meath | 12,047 |
| Dunshaughlin Community Créche | Meath | Lagore Road, Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath | 1,000,000 |
| Scallywags Playgroup & Afterschool Service | Meath | Unit 9, Parkview, Blackcastle Shopping Centre, Navan, Co. Meath | 35,111 |
| Glaslough Community Playschool | Monaghan | Oakland Centre, Glaslough, Co. Monaghan | 80,207 |
| Little Scholars Montessori School | Monaghan | 38 Park Road, Drumillard, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan | 100,000 |
| Riverbank Childcare Service (Emyvale Development Association) | Monaghan | Enterprise Centre, Mill Road, Emyvale, Co. Monaghan | 34,102 |
| Rainbows Playschool | Offaly | 2 Shandra Woods, Portarlington, Co. Offaly | 24,569 |
| Ballyrush Community Childcare Ltd. | Sligo | Ballyrush, Castlebaldwin, Co. Sligo | 502,000 |
| Cosy Cats | Sligo | Calry Rectory, The Mall, Sligo | 66,545 |
| Dromore West Community Playgroup | Sligo | Dromore West Community Centre, Dromore West, Co. Sligo | 5,000 |
| Gaile Pre-school | Tipperary | Gaile N.S., Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary | 14,562 |
| Knockanrawley Resource Centre | Tipperary | Knockanrawley, Tipperary Town | 240,122 |
| Treasure Island Community Playgroup | Tipperary | 16 Kickham Street, Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary | 80,064 |
| South West Wexford Community Development Group | Wexford | Ramsgrange, New Ross, Co. Wexford | 42,914 |
| Teach na bPaistí Playgroup | Wexford | St. Edan's Hall, Clone Road, Ferns, Co. Wexford | 625,000 |
| Cosy Tots | Wicklow | Coollattin Road, Carnew, Co. Wicklow | 54,357 |
| TOTAL CAPITAL RECOMMENDED | 10,831,581 | ||
| Group Name | County | Service Address | Amount (€) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlow VEC Childcare Centre | Carlow | Athy Road, Carlow | 161,300** |
| Cootehill Community Resource House | Cavan | 118 Drumnaveil, Cootehill, Co. Cavan | 44,100** |
| Glenfields Créche Steering Group | Cork | Glenfields, Ballyvolane, Cork | 127,000* |
| Daughters of Charity Child & Family Services | Dublin | North William Street, Dublin 1 | 150,000* |
| Dominican Montessori Preschool Ltd. | Dublin | Convent Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin | 40,300** |
| Ballygar Community Playgroup | Galway | Main Street, Ballygar, Co. Galway | 96,000** |
| The Trinity Den | Galway | Mervue National School, Galway | 93,275* |
| Harmony House Ltd. | Longford | Lanna Aoibhinn Resource Centre, Longford | 90,000* |
| Comharcumann Naíonra Cois Fharraige Teoranta | Mayo | Drum, Clochar, Béal an Átha, Co. Mhaigh Eo | 35,760** |
| Naíonra Dhun Chaochain | Mayo | Ceathrú Thaidhg, Béal an Átha, Co. Mhaigh Eo | 31,800** |
| Ferbane Community Childcare Group | Offaly | Ferbane, Co. Offaly | 150,000* |
| TOTAL STAFFING RECOMMENDED | 1,019,535 | ||
* over two years ** to 31/12/07
Note for the information of editors
1 National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 – 2010
1.1 A New National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 – 2010
This was announced by the Minister for Finance, Mr. Brian Cowen T.D. on 7 December last, in Budget 2006. Also announced was a landmark decision to create an Office of the Minister for Children, under the Minister for Children, Mr Brian Lenihan, T.D. who will report directly to Cabinet on matters relating to children and their welfare.
1.2 General Briefing New Programme
The New Programme is a key element of the National Childcare Strategy 2006 - 2010 to be implemented by the new Office of the Minister for Children. It is effective from 1 January 2006 and succeeds the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP) 2000 - 2006.
Unlike the existing EOCP 2000 – 2006, the new Programme is entirely Exchequer funded. The decision by the Government to create a major new 5 year Investment Programme immediately, rather than wait until the EOCP expired, is evidence of the Government’s commitment to the provision of quality childcare.
All key areas of children’s services relating to child protection and welfare, early childhood care and education and juvenile justice will now be brought together under the Minister for Children and in a single new Office.
Civil servants drawn from the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Health and Children; and Education and Science will assist the Minister and will be co-located in the Office of the Minister for Children, bringing with them their expertise in childcare policy and services.
1.3 Objectives of New Programme
The New Programme aims to provide a proactive response to the development of quality childcare supports and services which are grounded in an understanding of local needs. It will build on the existing EOCP Programme and will incorporate the following key objectives:
- Increasing the supply by 50,000 additional childcare places. This is over and above the 26,000 places already in place and the 15,000 due to come on stream under the EOCP.
- Improving the quality of early childhood care and education services including part-time, full day care, school age childcare and childminding.
- Supporting families and breaking the cycle of disadvantage.
- Supporting a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of childcare which is centred on the needs of the child.
Services eligible for support include those providing care for babies, full day care, part time places, pre-school places, school age childcare including "wrap around" childcare places and childminding. Special consideration will be given to support services which provide a range of these services.
1.4 Main elements of New Programme
€575 million has been allocated over 5 years (2006/2010) with a target to create 50,000 additional childcare places and with a greater focus on pre-school places for 3 to 4 year olds and school age childcare.
The 50,000 will include 5,000 after school places and 10,000 pre-school education places aimed at 3 to 4 year olds.
- The delivery of the Programme will be facilitated through a proactive approach by the City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) in identifying and meeting local childcare needs.
- A strategic approach will be adopted to developing training and standards for childcare workers, with direct linkages to FÁS, VECs, NVCOs, and the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education (CECDE). A target of 17,000 additional trained childcare personnel has been set.
- Co-ordination and integration will be enhanced at national and local level between the key players, including Local Planning Authorities and County Development Boards.
1.5 Funding Schemes New Programme
- The maximum Capital Grants available for the building or expansion of childcare facilities will be:
- €1 million per facility for Community Based Not For Profit Providers;
- €100,000 per facility for Private Providers (subject to a maximum of 75% of the total cost) and a maximum of €500,000 for multiple services in different catchment areas.
- A small Capital Grant Scheme for Parent and Toddler Groups will be available and will have a particular focus on disadvantaged areas.
- The Current funding stream will assist with Staffing and other operating costs in those community facilities that cannot meet the costs from fee income alone and will also underpin the further development of the City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs).
1.6 Expanded Role of City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs)
The CCCs will play a key role in the implementation of the new Programme to enable greater flexibility and responsiveness to local needs.
Additional funding will be made available shortly to CCCs to enable them to undertake their expanded role which includes supporting applicants, training and promoting School Age Childcare. CCCs are developing Supplementary Action Plans for 2006 and are expected to start recruiting additional staff shortly.
2 Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme
2.1 Programme Objectives
The main objectives of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme are to:
- improve the quality of childcare;
- maintain and increase the number of childcare facilities and places; and
- to introduce a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of childcare services.
In this context, the term "Childcare" refers to day care facilities and services for pre-school children and school going children out of school hours. It includes services offering care, education and socialisation opportunities for children to the benefit of children, parents, employers and the wider community. Thus services such as naíonraí, day care services, crèches, play groups, childminding and after-school groups are included, but schools (primary, secondary and special) and residential centres for children are excluded.
2.2 The key achievements to date include
- Funding commitments made to date are expected to lead to the creation of over 40,000 new centre based childcare places;
- 26,000 of these new centre based childcare places are already in place;
- Ongoing supports towards the staffing costs for childcare services which support parents who are disadvantaged and who are in employment, education and training;
- Programme well ahead of target which originally envisaged 28,500 new places by end 2007;
- Establishment of the 33 City and County Childcare Committees which, inter alia, support the local development of childcare and ensure that childcare is considered in County Development Plans;
- Supports to enhance the quality of childminders who are very often the childcare option of preference of Irish parents - this includes a Quality Awareness Programme, a Small Grants Scheme and networking and information initiatives - all being organised by the City and County Childcare Committees;
- Major investment to enhance quality and training for childcare practitioners.
2.3 How the Programme works
The EOCP operates under three sub-measures to meet its aims and provides grant assistance for Capital developments, for Staffing support in disadvantaged areas and for Quality Improvement. Details of some of the funding measures operated by the Department are outlined below:
2.3.1 Capital Grant Scheme for Community/Not for Profit organisations
This capital scheme applies to a community based/not-for-profit group or organisation or a community based/not-for-profit consortium of private and community groups, providing support towards the building, renovation, upgrading or equipping of community based childcare facilities.
2.3.2 Capital Grant Scheme for Self-employed Childcare Providers
This capital scheme applies to self-employed providers catering for not more than 20 children at any one time, providing support towards the building, renovation, upgrading or equipping of childcare facilities with a maximum available grant of € 50,790.
2.3.3 Capital Grant Scheme for Private Childcare Providers
This capital scheme applies to commercial providers of more than 20 childcare places and provides support towards building, renovation, upgrading or equipping of childcare facilities with a maximum available grant of € 50,790
2.3.4 Staffing Grant Assistance
This scheme applies to a community based/not-for-profit group or organisation, providing support towards staffing costs for community based childcare in disadvantaged areas.
2.4 Grants towards Quality Improvement
2.4.1 County Childcare Committees
It was considered appropriate to develop local networks through activity, co-ordinated at local level. To this end 33 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) were established in each County. The CCCs are allocated funding annually to develop local childcare networks and to implement co-ordinated strategic plans and action plans for childcare provision locally over the period 2000-2006.
As part of the Government's overall strategic aim of improving co-operation and co-ordination of local development structures at county level, the CCCs are now operating as working groups of the City and County Development Boards. It is intended that this approach will underpin the co-ordinated and strategic approach adopted to develop and deliver a childcare infrastructure and childcare services as an important strand of local development.
2.4.2 National Voluntary Childcare Organisations
Assistance is given to the National Voluntary Childcare Organisations (NVCOs) to promote quality and best practice in childcare delivery.
2.4.3 National Childminders Initiative
This is the first national initiative targeted specifically at childminders and makes a small capital grant available to childminders who attend a Quality Awareness Programme of lectures, organised by the CCCs who also organise networking, information and training opportunities for childminders.
2.4.4 Innovative projects
Funding is available for projects which show an innovative approach to the area of childcare service provision and which may be capable of being replicated in other areas.
2.4.5 Partnerships for Quality Childcare
This initiative, announced in 2004 aimed to encourage the CCCs and NVCOs to collaborate in the development of innovative actions, to improve the quality of childcare provision. The closing date for the first round of funding was 31st January 2005 and the first grants were awarded in late Spring 2005.
Further information on the NCIP and the EOCP can be obtained from the Childcare Division, Office of The Minister for Children at The Old Faculty Building, Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 or Lo-call telephone number 1890 20 90 30.
