Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1310. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there is funding available through her Department for a one-off build for new premises for a play group (details supplied); if funding can be sought for such a project through alternative sources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13970/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department provides funding under the following schemes:

The Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation provides for new and existing play and recreation facilities for children and young people. Projects may include new facilities, equipment, designs and/or the utilisation of non-traditional play spaces or the refurbishment or upgrading of existing play and recreation spaces and facilities.

Applications to this Scheme can be made through the Local Authority in which the facility/equipment will be available. Matched funding is a requirement of the Scheme and can be in the form of funds raise by voluntary groups, or a Local Authority contribution of finance or ‘in kind’ funding. The Local Authority Play and Recreation Network member for county Donegal is Eamon Boyle <>. It should be noted that the funding criteria under this scheme requires that facilities for which funding is granted are available for use by all children and young people in the locality at times when they are free to use them i.e. outside of school hours. The total amount of funding available in 2017 is €250,000. A maximum grant of €20,000 will be allocated to each Local Authority.

In relation to the Early Years Capital programme for 2017, yesterday I announced that funding will be made available under this programme in three strands, as follows:

- Strand 1: New Places (€3 million total available – maximum €50,000 per grant);

- Strand 2: Building improvements and maintenance/refurbishment (€500,000 total available, maximum €20,000 per grant, Community childcare services only);

- Strand 3: Natural outdoor play area (€500,000 total available, maximum €5,000 per grant).

Pobal will be responsible for administering the programme on behalf of my Department. Further details and information on how to make an application for funding will be available shortly on the Pobal website .

Additionally, at the recent launch of the Action Plan for School Age Childcare I announced a separate €3 million in capital funding for services providing school age childcare. This capital scheme will open in April and will encourage expansion in the number of school age childcare places along with enhancements to quality.