Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil thar ceann an Aire leanaí, an Teachta Norma Foley, leis an Teachta McGuinness as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a ardú ar maidin inniu. Is sprioc tábhachtach don Rialtas é rochtain a chur ar fáil do luathoideachas agus cúram leanaí. Tá maoiniú caipitil curtha ar fáil ag an Roinn faoin bplean forbartha náisiúnta chun spásanna nua lánaimseartha a chruthú sna háiteanna ina bhfuil an t-éileamh is airde i gcomparáid leis an soláthar. Tá €25 milliún ar fáil anois chun níos mó spás a chur ar fáil faoin scéim deontais, building blocks extension, ag tacú le tograí tógála de chuid na seirbhísí atá ansin cheana féin.

The priority of the Department of Children, Disability and Equality has been the delivery of additional capacity for the types of provision for which there is the greatest need. The scheme is therefore focused on supporting the creation of additional full-time places for children aged from one year to three years through extensions to existing buildings or, in the case of not-for-profit community services, construction or purchase of buildings. Osclaíodh an scéim seo do sheirbhísí a bhí ag cur áiteanna lánaimseartha cheana féin nó a bhí sásta áiteanna nua-aimseartha a chur ar fáil agus a chruthú.

I am advised by the Minister that 50 early learning and childcare providers have been shortlisted for funding under this scheme and that these services are working closely with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to deliver more than 1,500 new quality and affordable places throughout the country. In the case to which the Deputy refers, níor chuir an tseirbhís sin iarratas isteach faoin scéim seo, but I am advised that the Waterford County Childcare Committee has been working with the service to provide them with support and identify opportunities to meet their particular circumstances.

The Minister is considering the approach to capital investment in future years within the context of the programme for Government commitments and the revision of the plean forbartha náisiúnta agus tá sé sin ag dul ar aghaidh faoi láthair. The focus will be on the types of provision and the areas where there are the greatest capacity deficits.

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