Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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436. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the projects approved to date for funding in Cavan/Monaghan under a scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28972/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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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.

Under the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, which operated in 2023, €9 million was allocated in grants ranging from €35,000 to €75,000 were awarded under two strands, Green Energy and Retrofit. The following services based in Cavan and Monaghan were awarded funding under this scheme:

This scheme is now closed.

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.

Under the Building Blocks Expansion Grant scheme grants of between €25,000 and €100,000 were awarded to projects to undertake renovation or upgrades to existing space to cater for more children. I am advised that KraftyKidz, Daisy Hill in Cavan has been provisionally approved for funding of €82,897.60 under this scheme. Pobal has contacted applicants with the outcome of the appraisal process and the pre-contracting stage is now underway.