David Maxwell (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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330. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the building blocks extension grant scheme will be announced. [26443/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched on 4th November 2024. The closing date for applications was 30th January.

A total of 78 applications were received. These applications came from a variety of locations across the country.

Initial eligibility reviews, a full appraisal process and further suitability checks were undertaken of the applications. The Office of Public Works (OPW) and Pobal completed appraisals of eligible applications against three criteria - evidence of need, quality of application and readiness to progress the project.

Of the 78 applications received, 11 were deemed ineligible and therefore did not progress to the appraisal stage. Of the 67 applications appraised, 49 met the qualifying standards.

I was delighted to announce on Monday 19th May the 49 applications which will be progressing to the next stage of the process. These 49 applications come from a mix of Community Extension (24), Private Extension (7), Community Purchasing (4) and Community Construction (14) projects, which, when completed, will deliver almost 1,500 additional full time childcare places for 1-3 year olds across the country. I look forward to seeing how these projects progress over the coming months.