Grants totalling more than half a million euro have been awarded to promote childcare projects across the country, the Minister for Justice announced today.
Michael McDowell announced seven grants worth a total of €573,000 are to be awarded under the Partnerships for Quality Childcare initiative.
The scheme, announced in August 2004, allows city and county council childcare committees and the National Voluntary Childcare Organisations to work together on projects to enhance childcare in Ireland.
The initiative is part of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme -
which covers day care, crèches, play groups, childminding and after-school groups.
The grants announced today were awarded on the basis of the most innovative proposals.
Announcing the funding, the Minister said he was particularly impressed by the diverse range of projects which were proposed.
"They include an initiative on childcare provision for children with special needs and the development of a curriculum and a training programme for the very topical area of school-age childcare," he said.
Mr McDowell also announced he had approved more than €679,500 in capital or staffing grant assistance to 14 childcare projects.
These grants will lead to the creation of 273 new childcare places and support 264 existing places, in a mixture of community-based and private provision, in 11 counties across the country, Mr McDowell said.
PA