€15m childcare funding unveiled

Minister for Children Brian Lenihan has announced €15 million in funding to support the further development of childcare facilities.

Over €11 million is to be awarded to local childcare committees around the country, while €3 million will be given to a number of voluntary organisations including Barnardos, Childminding Ireland and the National Children's Nurseries Association

An additional €1 million has been allocated to the implementation of the National Childminders' Initiative.

Mr Lenihan said a lot of progress had been made by childcare organisations in promoting and implementing the €575 million National Childcare Investment Programme since it was launched last year.

The funding has been made available under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme and the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP).

"Since the NCIP became operational early in 2006, I have approved almost €15 million in capital funding to Private Providers, which will lead to the creation of over 7,200 new places and will support over 1,800 existing places.

"This is in addition to the 31,750 places already created and the 9,250 due to come on stream under the €500 million EOCP," he said.