Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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195. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to address capacity in delivery of services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26591/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Ensuring access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government.

The level of capacity has risen substantially year on year between 2022 and 2023 as evidenced by survey data collected by Pobal, by administrative data from Core Funding and the National Childcare Scheme and registration data collected by Tusla. However, there is also evidence that demand for places is increasing and, for certain cohorts, outstripping supply. This is partly driven by the significant improvements in affordability that have been achieved in recent years.

The range of funding schemes delivered by my Department support the delivery of capacity by the sector, through the Early Childhood Care and Education programme, the National Childcare Scheme, the Access and Inclusion Model and Core Funding, as well as Equal Start which was recently launched.

In addition, my Department supports the delivery of capacity through capital funding. Capital funding has been allocated to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant investment in early learning and childcare.

In 2024 and 2025, my Department is delivering capital investment through the Building Blocks Capacity Grant. The primary focus of the Building Blocks Capacity Grant Schemes is to increase capacity in the 1-3 year old, pre-ECCE, age range for full day or part-time care.

The schemes will operate between 2024 and 2025. It will operate over two strands, an Expansion scheme and an Extension scheme to support existing services to increase capacity.

The Expansion scheme offers funding for internal reconfiguration projects valued at between €50,000 and €100,000 that increase capacity. This scheme is now closed and Pobal have recently notified the applicants of the outcome of the appraisal process.

The Extension scheme will offer funding for larger scale projects to enable existing services to build new capacity on their current premises. Further detail on the scheme will be made available in the coming weeks to allow services to prepare their applications.

Participation in Core Funding is a requirement of both strands. Cavan County Childcare Committee is available to provide support to services from Cavan that are applying for capital funding or any other funding stream.