Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

148. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total capital spend in 2021 in providing grant aid to assist in the upgrading of existing childcare facilities and the provision of new facilities; the level of funding allocated for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5405/22]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

150. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he plans to improve the level of grant aid available in 2022 towards the provision of new childcare accommodation and the upgrading of existing facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5406/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 150 together.

The works eligible for capital funding are determined by my Department on an annual basis, having regard to the needs of children, families and providers, and to Departmental priorities.

During the 2021 budgetary process, an initial €8.3m was provided for capital funding. A further €2.2m was secured in capital carryover bringing total capital funding available to €10.5m in 2021. The upgrading of the fire safety measures in existing early learning and childcare services was the key objective of the 2021 Capital Programme, with €10.5 million available funding.

The first tranche of capital grants were assigned in May 2021 to existing services to improving fire safety standards. Service providers were invited to apply for funding to carry out remedial works, with a total of €5 million of the €10.5 million budget being claimed by 638 services.

The remaining capital funding of €5.5million was made available to all registered early learning and childcare services to enable them to encourage more outdoor play. Eligible expenditure included shelters and play equipment. Outdoor play enables children to explore and engage with the natural world, while being a simple and effective method of infection control.

During 2021, my Department successfully secured €70m in the revised National Development Plan (NDP) allocation. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare during 2023-2025. Investment under the NDP will consist of three pillars: Modernisation, New Capacity and First 5 Initiatives.

Capital funding has been reduced in 2022 to €0.5m as my Department focusses on the preparation of distribution of NDP funding from 2023 onwards. This will include setting eligibility criteria, designing and developing the application process, and establishing approval criteria. This 2022 allocation is for Childminding and Parent and Toddler Groups, who maintain 2021 allocations. In addition, my Department has secured some €750k of unspent 2021 capital funding which will be carried into 2022. This funding will be made available to provide financial assistance to providers to comply with fire safety regulations.