Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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655. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the percentage of the building blocks grant that has gone to private services versus community service in each year it has been available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13454/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Building Blocks Improvement Grant Scheme, which operated in 2023, 151 services were offered funding. Of these, 31% are community services, and 69% are private services.

Under the Building Blocks Expansion Grant, which operated in 2024, 22 services were offered funding. Of these, 50% are community services, and 50% are private services.

In 2025, €25m has been made available to deliver additional capacity under the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme. This grant is designed to support the creation of additional full day care places for children aged 1-3.

The application window for this scheme is now closed and an appraisal process has begun. I expect to announce the outcome of this process in the coming weeks.