Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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606. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on correspondence in relation to a community playgroup (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21383/15]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Capital funding totalling €11.25 million was provided over the past 3 years to support the refurbishment and upgrading of early years services. This funding was targeted primarily at the community/not for profit sector with the objective of ensuring that previously-funded community facilities remained fit-for-purpose and in a position to maintain and improve quality, and to make community services more efficient and sustainable through improving the energy rating of these facilities.

€7 million is being made available in 2015 under the Early Years Capital Programme 2015, with €5 million of this funding available for grants specifically for community/not for profit services. This funding will provide grant aid, in the region of €500,000, for significant upgrades of community/not-for-profit services, such as major refurbishment or relocation to new premises. Also under this strand of funding, grants of up to €50,000 will be available for essential maintenance, or works undertaken to improve the energy performance of childcare facilities. The remaining €2 million in capital funding is being made available for both private and community childcare facilities to access grants of up to €500 for quality improvement measures, specifically in the area of upgrading IT facilities.

I understand that this facility has submitted a Strand 3 application (Quality and Sustainability) and a Strand 4 application (ICT equipment) to Pobal, who is administering this programme on behalf of my Department. Pobal has now commenced the process of appraising all of the applications. All applicants will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.