Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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746. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if her Department can provide any funding supports to creche and pre-school business owners who have been obligated to upgrade toilet facilities at great cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25093/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Improving access to quality and affordable early learning and childcare is a key priority of Government.

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. Some €89 million has been allocated to my Department between 2023 and 2026.

The Building Blocks Capacity Grant schemes are operating over 2024 and 2025. The Building Blocks Capacity Grant has two strands, an Expansion scheme and an Extension scheme to support existing services to increase capacity. The primary focus of the Building Blocks Capacity Grant Schemes is to increase capacity in the 1-3 year olds, pre-ECCE, age range for full day care.

My Department does not have voted expenditure for 2025 for remedial capital works. The approach to capital investment in future years will be informed by the Programme for Government commitments and subject to the allocations indicated in the revised National Development Plan.