Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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525. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the next round of building blocks capital programme for early learning and childcare will be open for applications; the process relating to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26744/25]

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.

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.

I was delighted to announce last week the 49 applications which will be progressing to the next stage of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme. 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 . I look forward to seeing how these projects progress over the coming months.

My Department does not have further funding available in 2025. 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.