Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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601. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status of a case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9067/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Building Blocks Extension Scheme is making available €25 million in 2025 to support the delivery of new early learning and care places.

Under the Extension Scheme, community and private providers could apply for funding to physically extend their premises. In addition, community providers could apply for funding to purchase or to construct new premises.

Providers were eligible to apply under the Extension Grant if the purpose of the grant was to expand in order to provide Early Learning and Care places to the to the 1-3-year-old (pre-ECCE) cohort. The focus of the investment is designed to ensure that capacity is expanded in the part of the sector where there is the greatest misalignment between supply and demand.

The scheme is now closed for applications and the appraisal of applications is now underway. I expect to announce the outcome of the appraisal process in the coming weeks.