Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

94. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the assistance that he can provide to a service (details supplied) that is currently operating out of a club; if he will provide assistance to the service manager to draw down funding to expand this vital community service and provide much-needed places in the local area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50610/22]

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My question relates to a community childcare provider in Kilkenny city. Unusually for a community facility, it is located in two private houses that it rents. The property was converted some years ago, so it is purpose-built in that sense. It is unusual, however, in terms of the rent that the provider is paying, unlike many other community facilities. It has an overspill into a local GAA club at the moment to try to provide an afterschool service. I will expand on this in the next round.

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | 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.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As I said, the service is an unusual situation as it does not own the building. The modernisation grant would be fine but, at the same time, it is sort of like when one is renting a house - one is putting work into something one will never own. I am interested in the second pillar, however, comprising €45 million in funding. That might be relevant to the provider. Will that funding be available from 2023? How does a provider go about accessing it? It is often the case when people come to a Deputy regarding a wish to expand or open a facility that one does not know where to start or to whom the person should speak. The service in question is already operating under the community model and does incredible work. It has expanded onto the grounds of the local GAA club - in fairness to James Stephens GAA Club, it has give the provider the use of its facilities - because it had around 100 kids waiting for a place in afterschool care. It was able to facilitate a significant number of those kids because of the expansion. It collects the children from school. It is a unique and valuable service and it is really valuable. The crux of my question is whether there is a way for it to apply for funding to get a vacant building?

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We announced the €10 million modernisation scheme approximately one month ago. The best thing the provider could do is to engage with the Kilkenny County Childcare Committee with regard to making an application under that scheme. I understand what the Deputy is saying. Many community providers do not own their facility. Many community facilities are located in rented accommodation. I certainly will bear that in mind in designing the scheme for the capacity expansion grant, which is the larger grant scheme. I hope to open that later next year and funding will be then available. Previously, the Department had not done significant capital investment. It had a couple of million each year but now we have far more in the national development plan, NDP, which is positive, and we have to build up our capacity to get that money out to services. We will be getting many applications in, judging which are the best applications and targeting, particularly to the areas where we need expanded capacity.

Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The provider services a significant number of schools in the city area, particularly in the context of the collection service for afterschool care. That is invaluable for parents. I often wish I could have availed of that service at times. One never knows at what time one will be leaving the Dáil, however, so it is definitely not going to be suitable for me. It is such a great service that it offers for people. It is brilliant for the kids as well because there are lots of activities, as well as a bit of help with homework, and food is provided. It is ticking all the boxes.

I note the Minister stated that the scheme will be available from late 2023, possibly into 2024. Will it realistically be a scheme to which people can apply to purchase a building or is it more aimed at upgrading works? I am trying to find out because the provider has two houses at the moment and operates from the grounds of a GAA club and has such a level of demand that it could provide services for far more children if it had the space to do so. Can it apply to the scheme for funding to get a vacant building? Is that the right fund for the provider?

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The modernisation fund which has been opened up already is not the right fund and is just for the modernisation and upgrading of their existing buildings but the capacity expansion scheme is about bringing new services online. We are still working on the criteria for it but it is certainly my desire that we want and need new capacity and we want services to expand.

It is interesting that the core funding that we brought in has already started to deliver expanded capacity and our focus in our debates here was very much about better wages for staff but it is also about increasing the capacity. I will be answering a couple of questions later on during which I will address that issue.

One more point on the capacity issue is in respect of the planning laws where we need to make planning regulations which are linked so that when 75 units of housing are built, a childcare facility is built. That is there at the moment but it is not delivering in many places. I have been engaging with local authorities to try to get the on-the-ground experience and we will also be engaging with housing to tighten up those regulations so that they deliver.