Minister announces almost €5 million in additional grants for the development and support of the childcare sector

40 projects to benefit from almost € 5 million childcare support

10 May 2006

The Minister for Children, Mr. Brian Lenihan, T.D., announced today almost € 4 million in capital grant assistance and almost € 1 million in staffing grant assistance to childcare providers.

Forty 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 end April 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 below.

Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 / National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010

Sub Measure 1 - Capital Grants
Group Name County Service Address Amount
€
Little Rascals Carlow Chapelstown, Carlow 100,000
Cheeky Churubs Cork 19 Uam Var Avenue, Bishopstown, Cork 100,000
Clondrohid Community Playschool Cork 'Clann Aire', Clondrohid, Macroom, Co. Cork 380,000
Coláiste Stiofán Naofa Cork Tramore Road, Cork 771,995
Greenmount Voluntary Playgroup Cork Scoil Náisiúnta Muire na Grás, Green Street, Cork 12,369
Little Rascals Cork Knockattigan, Quarry Road, Youghal, Co. Cork 83,494
Mayfield Integrated Community Development Project Ltd. Cork Community Resource Centre, 328 Old Youghal Road, Mayfield, Cork 51,543
Mitchelstown Community Playgroup Cork Presentation Convent Grounds, Mitchelstown, Co. Cork 30,874
St. Joseph's (Mayfield) Community Association Cork Community Rooms, Old Youghal Road, Mayfield, Cork 116,000
Bizzy B's Crèche Dublin 62 Glasnevin Hill, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 38,531
Naíonra Pobail Seanchill Dublin 3 Hazelwood, Seanchill, Baile Átha Cliath 50,000
Rathmines Information & Community Services Centre Ltd. Dublin 11 Wynnefield Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6 1,400,000
Sticky Fingers Galway No. 7, The Glade, Athenry, Co. Galway 33,477
Lots of Tots Kildare Smallford, Athy, Co. Kildare 43,526
St. Canice's Community Action Ltd. Kilkenny Fr. McGrath Family Resource Centre, St. Joseph's Road, Kilkenny 35,886
Daydreams Crèche Limerick Rós Fearna, Murroe, Co. Limerick 75,000
Tina's Tots Longford Abbeyshrule, Co. Longford 100,000
Tots and Co. Playgroup Louth Fieldstown, Monasterboice, Drogheda, Co. Louth 80,606
Kidz of the Manor Meath Racehill Manor, Racehill Road, Ashbourne, Co. Meath 58,650
Oasis Childcare Centre Meath Mornington Court, Mornington, Co. Meath 51,736
The Schoolhouse Montessori Meath Ballyhack, Fairyhouse Road, Rathoath, Co. Meath 37,331
Buttercups Tarmonbarry/Clondra Community Playschool Roscommon Clonmore Health Centre, Tarmonbarry, Co. Roscommon 27,575
Joelyn Keane Roscommon Cloonfad, Ballyhaunis, Co. Roscommon 100,000
Loughglynn Parish Community Childcare Ltd. Roscommon Loughglynn, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon 51,370
Scooters Sligo 49A Rusheen Ard, Caltragh, Sligo 26,250
Little Learners Day Care & Montessori Tipperary Clonmore Road, Kiltillane, Templemore, Co. Tipperary 100,000
Carrigeen Montessori School Wicklow Carrigeen, Baltinglass, Co. Wicklow 4,502
TOTAL CAPITAL RECOMMENDED 3,960,715
Sub Measure 1 - Staffing Grants
Group Name County Service Address Amount
€
Ballyhaise Community Playschool Cavan Ballyhaise, Co. Cavan 31,500**
Schull Community Preschool Cork The Parish Grounds, Schull, Co. Cork 33,300**
Scoil Maria Assumpta Senior School Cork Pearse Road, Ballyphehane, Cork 27,200**
Castlefin Community Childcare Services Donegal Millburn, Castlefin, Lifford, Co. Donegal 58,512**
Creeslough Community Playgroup Donegal St. Michael's Terrace, Creeslough, Co. Donegal 113,750**
Naíonra Dhuibhleann Riabhach Donegal High Glen, Carrigart, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal 31,800**
Naíonra Uí h-Earcáin Dublin c/o W.F.T.A, Mellows Road, Finglas, Dublin 11 90,600**
Muintearas - Naíolann na nOileán Galway Tír an Fhia, Leitir Mor, Co. na Gaillimhe 40,250**
Kilgarvan Childcare Action Group Kerry Fussa, Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry 114,000**
Croom Community Playgroup Limerick High Street, Croom, Co. Limerick 55,000**
Askamore Community Development Association Wexford Askamore, Gorey, Co. Wicklow 112,125**
Craanford/Monaseed Community Playschool Wexford Craanford Community Centre, Craanford, Gorey, Co. Wexford 90,600**
Ballywaltrim Community Centre/Marian Centre Wicklow Greenpark Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow 97,200**
TOTAL STAFFING RECOMMENDED 895,837
OVERALL TOTAL RECOMMENDED 4,856,552

** to 31/12/07