Written answers

Wednesday, 22 January 2025

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Childcare Services

Photo of Louis O'HaraLouis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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1169. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what supports his Department can provide to a group (details supplied) in County Galway in its efforts to establish a new community creche in Caltra; if there is funding available from his Department for construction and initial operational costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46608/24]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Enabling access to and availability of affordable high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority.

Considerable investment has taken place in recent years to improve the resourcing, quality and availability of early learning and childcare. Data available to my Department demonstrates that the level of capacity in the sector has risen substantially in recent years.

Last year, I established a Supply Management Unit within the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Division of my Department. Part of this Unit's remit is to oversee the administration of capital investment under the revised National Development Plan. Some €89 million has been allocated to my Department between 2023 and 2026 for capital funding.

€25m will be made available this year to deliver additional capacity under the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme. The Extension Grant Scheme, which is now open for applications and is a competitive application process, is open to existing Early Learning and Childcare services to undertake large scale extensions to their premises to provide additional capacity for full day places for 1-3 year old children. The scheme will also allow community services to apply for funding to construct or purchase new premises. The closing date for applications under the scheme is 27th January 2025. For services interested in applying for the scheme, additional information and support is available from City and County Childcare Committees.

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