Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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204. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding available for outdoor play areas for a facility (details supplied); if they are open at present; if not, when they will open; the application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49956/18]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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Applications under the Capital Grants Programme for 2018 closed on 9^thMarch 2018 with services receiving their funding on 1^stJune 2018. Under the 2018 programme, strand 3 was designated to support the construction of Early Years Natural Outdoor Play Areas.

While the specifics of the 2019 Capital Programme are still under discussion between officials in my department and colleagues in Pobal, it is expected that there will be a focus on building capacity as well as other capital initiatives to support the transition to the Affordable Childcare Scheme.

Once this process is completed, an announcement will issue to all childcare providers in the coming months to inform them of the general guidelines for the programmes, as well as a timeline for their delivery.