(1)
In each year, out of money appropriated by Parliament,—
the service provider of every licensed early childhood service—
must be paid general grants; and
may be paid 1 or more discretionary grants; and
the service provider who operates a certified playgroup—
may be paid general grants; and
the management of any body corporate may be paid a discretionary grant for the purpose of establishing a licensed early childhood service or certified playgroup.
(2)
The amount of every grant must be determined by the Minister.
(3)
The Minister may determine the means by which the amounts of grants may be calculated or ascertained, and—
different means may be determined in respect of—
grants of different classes or descriptions; and
licensed early childhood services of different classes or descriptions and certified playgroups; and
the amount of any grant may be determined accordingly; but
nothing in this subsection limits or affects the Minister’s power under subsection (2) to determine the amount of any grant.
(4)
Without limiting subsection (3), the Minister may determine that no grant is payable in respect of any international student attending a licensed early childhood service.
(5)
Any grant—
may be paid unconditionally, or subject to any conditions the Minister specifies in writing when the grant is paid or earlier; and
may be paid to be used for any purpose the service provider thinks fit, or for only the purposes that the Minister specifies in writing when the grant is paid or earlier; and
may be withheld in whole or in part if the service provider fails to comply with any regulations made under section 636 or 637 or any conditions of the licence or certificate.
(6)
The service provider must ensure that,—
where a grant has been paid subject to conditions, the conditions are complied with; and
if a grant has been paid to be used only for purposes specified by the Minister under subsection (5)(b), the grant is used only for those purposes.
Compare: 1989 No 80 s 311