Written answers
Tuesday, 7 November 2023
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Early Childhood Care and Education
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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62. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the building blocks grant scheme will open for submission for 2023 and 2024, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48509/23]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Some €69 million has been allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars:
- Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;
- Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and
- Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
Work is currently underway on the design and delivery of Pillars 2 and 3, which have a combined allocation of €20 million in 2024 and €40 million in 2025.
The Building Blocks – Capacity Grant will fund an expansion of existing services in areas of under-supply. Funding will also be provided to support the development of new services, where most needed. The Building Blocks – Innovation Grant will pilot a range of innovative initiatives such as outdoor early learning and childcare services.
I hope to announce details of the Building Blocks – Capacity Grant later this month.
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