Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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274. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the necessary resources to a community childcare facility (details supplied) in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, in order to provide additional space to cater for a dramatic increase in demand for childcare services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2524/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department was allocated €70m in the National Development Plan allocation. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars: Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and a Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.

My Department has allocated €9m in 2023 for The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) facilities.

Grants range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit. Services that sign up for the Core Funding Scheme were eligible for funding under for the Building Blocks – Improvement Grant. The closing date for this capital grant scheme was 16^thDecember last.

I will be announcing details of the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant in the coming months. This grant scheme will address the capacity gap and will provide an investment of up to €45m in the expansion of capacity within the sector. I am satisfied that the Building Blocks capital schemes will provide a much needed investment for the early learning and childcare sector.