Written answers
Thursday, 11 October 2018
Department of Children and Youth Affairs
Early Years Sector
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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187. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding allocated and total expenditure under the early years capital programme in each of the years 2015 to 2018. [41545/18]
Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The early years capital budget in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has over the past number of years contributed to the creation of early years and school age childcare places, essential maintenance, quality improvements and other smaller scale grants with the objective of improving the overall infrastructure of the childcare sector in Ireland. Between 2015 and 2018, the Department has provided capital grants to early years providers on a competitive basis, with a focus on building capacity and improvements for childcare facilities.
The allocation and outturn for early years capital in the years 2015 to 2018 was as follows.
| Year | Allocation (€m) | Outturn (€m) |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 8.25 | 8.25 |
| 2016 | 7.5 | 7 |
| 2017 | 7.5* | TBC** |
| 2018 | 6.86 | TBC*** |
*This figure includes €1.64m carried over from 2016.
**Final outturn figures for 2017 are currently being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy.
***2018 programme ongoing.
Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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188. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to grant either retrospective funding or release future funding to a school (details supplied) in view of the exceptional circumstances in the case. [41546/18]
Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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My Department operated a number of Capital Programmes in 2018 offering assistance under a number of categories covering increased capacity, essential maintenance and natural outdoor play areas. The Programme was launched earlier in the year and unfortunately the process has now concluded with the budget allocated in full. No further funding is anticipated to be made available this year.
However, the details and specification of 2019's Early Years Capital offering are being developed at present. As soon as these have been finalised, an announcement will issue to all childcare providers. Following this, I would encourage the service in question to submit an application for funding.
As regards the precarity of the service in question's current rental situation, I would encourage as a matter of urgency that they engage with their local County Childcare Committee (Meath CCC) and Pobal's Sustainability team should they be in danger of closure or re-location. There are a number of non-financial sustainability supports offered to services that are experiencing difficulties.
I regret that I cannot be of more assistance at this time. However, I wish the service in question the very best wishes now and in the future.
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