Written answers
Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Childcare Services
Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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867. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what grant assistance could be provided by his Department, or by agencies under the remit of his Department, to assist an early education not-for-profit centre (details supplied) providing childcare in a disadvantaged area, to carry out repairs and renovations to their premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40559/23]
Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Some €69 million has been allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars:
1. Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;
2. Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and
3. Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
Under the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, €9 million has been allocated in 2023 for energy upgrades and retrofit projects. Retrofit projects have included supporting services in carrying out larger scale renovations to their premises. This scheme is now closed and my Department does not have additional funding available in 2023 for this purpose.
Work is currently underway on the design and delivery of Pillars 2 and 3, which have a combined allocation of €20 million in 2024 and €40 million in 2025.
The Building Blocks – Capacity Grant will fund an expansion of existing services in areas of identified under supply. Funding will also be provided to support the development of new services, where most needed. The Building Blocks – Innovation Grant will pilot a range of innovative initiatives such as outdoor early learning and childcare services.
I hope to be in a position to provide more information on the delivery of the Building Blocks – Capacity Grant in the coming weeks.
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