Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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170. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will make funding available to an organisation (details supplied) in order that it can build a purpose room to cater appropriately for all the needs of the children that use its service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43107/17]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department is committed to the development and reform of the Capital programme in respect of the needs of children and providers, with the aim of providing childcare facilities of the highest quality. Capital Funding is made available by my Department on an annual basis at varying levels for particular projects.

For example, the Early Years Capital 2017 programme focused on creating new childcare places as well as increasing the quality of existing childcare facilities. To achieve this, €8.4 million was allocated to Early Years Capital funding for 2017. Among other things, Early Years Capital 2017 made available funding for the creation of new childcare places and for the improvement and maintenance of existing childcare facilities, under Strands One and Two respectively of its programme for delivery. The 2017 cycle is well underway with the application deadline of 24th April 2017 and results announced in early July 2017.

I can inform you that the Early Years Capital 2018 programme is at present under development, the details of which will be announced later this year. My officials are currently liaising with Pobal and City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) in order to determine the priorities and structure of Early Years Capital 2018.

The details on how to apply for Early Years Capital 2018 — including the specific areas of focus under which capital funding will be made available — will be communicated to providers in due course. While I cannot commit to funding specific organisations, I would invite all interested and eligible providers to submit an application once the Early Years Capital 2018 programme is launched.