Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Ensuring high quality early learning and childcare is accessible and affordable is a key priority for me and there are a number of funding programmes available through my Department that seek to improve capacity which will be open to the Village Childcare and Community Services.

The new core funding scheme has a range of objectives, and that includes capacity growth. Although the scheme has only been in place since 15 September, initial analysis shows there has been a significant growth in capacity, with particular capacity growth for cohorts where it is needed, such as baby rooms and toddler rooms. To meet the cost of this capacity growth, I recently announced that the original allocation of core funding will be increased to €259 million for year 1 of the scheme. In addition, the full value of the core funding will be increased by €28 million, to €287 million, in year 2 of the scheme. Funding earmarked for the scheme in year 2 will be informed by the emerging data from year 1 and may focus on promoting further capacity expansion.

In addition, my Department secured €70 million under the revised national development plan for the building blocks capital programme, which is being designed to meet current and long-term early learning and childcare infrastructure needs. This programme has three pillars. The first is a €10 million modernisation grant to improve energy efficiency standards while also supporting the continuous improvement of the physical environment of services. The second pillar, which is probably the major one, is a €45 million capacity grant to address capacity gaps to fund an expansion in existing services and invest in the development of new services where most needed. Finally, there is a €15 million innovation grant to pilot a range of innovative initiatives such as outdoor early learning and childcare services. Pillar 1, the modernisation grant, will open for applications later this year. Pillars 2 and 3 will be open for applications from next year on.

As regards the Village Childcare and Community Services in particular, if it wishes to undertake modernisation of its buildings, it can seek a modernisation grant under the scheme which will be open from this year. The more substantial capacity expansion funding will be available from next year to it and all other services.

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