James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

74. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will consider allocating additional resources in Cork; if he will address a growing shortfall of childcare facilities in areas experiencing substantial housing and population growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4453/23]

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

Ensuring high quality early learning and childcare is accessible and affordable is a key priority for me and there are a number of funding programmes available through my Department that seek to improve capacity.

The new Core Funding scheme has a range of objectives that includes capacity growth.

Though this scheme is only in place since 15 September 2022, initial analysis shows that there have been a significant growth in capacity – with capacity growth for cohorts (such as babies and toddlers) and in areas where there has been significant pressure on places, including Cork.

To meet the cost of this capacity growth, I increased the original allocation for Year 1 of Core Funding to €259 million. In addition, the full year value of Core Funding will increase by €28 million to €287 million in Year 2 of the Scheme.

Funding earmarked for the Scheme in Year 2 will be informed by the emerging data from Year 1 and other evidence and may focus on promoting further capacity expansion.

In addition, my Department secured some €70 million under the revised National Development Plan for the Building Blocks Capital Programme, which is being designed to meet current and long-term Early Learning and Childcare infrastructure needs. This Programme includes three Pillars:

1 - A €9 million Modernisation Grant to improve energy efficiency standards, while also supporting the continuous improvement of the physical environment of services.

2 - A €45 million Capacity Grant to address capacity gaps, to fund an expansion in existing services and investing in the development of new services where most needed.

3 - A €15 million Innovation Grant to pilot a range of innovative initiatives such as outdoor early learning and childcare services.

The closing date for Pillar was 16 December last and applicants will be advised on the outcome of the appraisal process next month.

Pillars 2 and 3 will operate over the period 2024-2025, though details for these Pillars will be announced in the coming months.