Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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45. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the level of capital funding available in 2017 for the provision of new or the upgrading of existing child care facilities; her plans for new initiatives in the provision of new child care places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31178/17]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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60. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if new schemes will be introduced to assist in the upgrading of existing child care places or the provision of new accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31179/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 60 together.

On 20 March 2017 I announced a €4m Early Years Capital programme for 2017 in three strands, as follows:

- Strand 1: Additional Places (€3 million is available, with a maximum of €50,000 per grant);

- Strand 2: Building improvements and maintenance/refurbishment (€500,000 is available, with a maximum of €20,000 per grant. This is available to Community childcare services only);

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

The application process opened on Friday 24 March and closed on Thursday 27 April.

Additionally, under the Action Plan for School Age Childcare, a separate €3 million is being provided in capital funding for services providing school age childcare. This capital scheme opened on Friday 7 April and closed on Wednesday 17 May. It will encourage expansion in the number of school age childcare places, along with enhancements to quality.

A large volume of applications was received under both programmes and in particular under the Early Years Capital 2017 programme. Pobal has completed appraisal of applications under the Early Years scheme, and has provided the Department with its recommendations on Friday last, June 23. Officials in my Department are currently reviewing these recommendations, and an announcement regarding the successful applications will be made in the coming weeks. I expect Pobal’s recommendations on the school age capital shortly also.

In light of the level of demand, I am pursuing the possibility of securing additional funding over and above the €7m allocated to these schemes.

Both the Early Years Capital and the School Age Capital Programmes are focused on creating new accommodation and capacity, as well as increasing the quality of existing childcare facilities. Capital funding is allocated on the basis of need, and the level of application is reflective of the high level of demand within the sector. I am committed to the continuous development and reform of the programme in respect of the needs of children and providers, with the aim of providing access to childcare facilities of the highest quality.