206 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make the necessary moneys available to a group (details supplied) in Dublin 13 for the proposed full-day child care facility in the Baldoyle area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29109/00]

As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the Government has committed £250 million to the child care measure under the National Development Plan 2000-06. In April of this year, I announced the availability of capital and staffing grants for child care providers under the equal opportunities child care programme.

I can confirm that application forms for capital and staffing grants for community based not-for-profit groups were requested on 25 September by the group in question and forwarded on 27 September 2000 by the equal opportunities child care section of my Department. I have been informed by the section that, to date, no completed application forms for any of the measures contained in the equal opportunities child care programme have been received from the group in question.

While my Department has no closing date on the child care grants scheme, funding can only be allocated to groups on receipt of an application form and the completion of the assessment and appraisal process. My Department will, of course, give due consideration to any application for funding submitted for child care facilities from providers throughout the country.