Written answers
Tuesday, 10 June 2025
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Departmental Schemes
Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
1213. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total value of applications received under the recent building block grant scheme; if all eligible applications were funded under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30357/25]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
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.
In May, I announced the 49 applications which will be progressing to the next stage of the process, with a total project value of €23.2m.
All projects that were eligible, met the suitability checks and exceeded the minimum scoring threshold are 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.
The next stage will involve completion of all legal formalities of the scheme. After this process is completed, services will commence their projects.
Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
1214. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will provide a breakdown of unsuccessful applications under the building block grant scheme, by county; the reason each application was unsuccessful; if there is an appeal mechanism for unsuccessful applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30358/25]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
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.
29 of these applications were unsuccessful or deemed ineligible as outlined below.
| County | No. of unsuccesful applications | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Carlow | 1 | Applicant was deemed ineligible due to no Project Execution Plan included in the application. |
| Clare | 1 | Applicant was deemed ineligible as application was not within the rules of the strand applied for |
| Cork | 6 | Five of these applications was unsuccessful due to low scores in terms of quality and readiness. One applicant was deemed ineligible due to no Project Execution plan included in the application. |
| Donegal | 3 | One applicant was deemed ineligible as applicant did not own the land. One application was deemed ineligible as based on the nature of the building. One applicant was deemed ineligible as no Project Execution Plan was included in the application. |
| Dublin | 3 | One applicant was deemed ineligible as no Project Execution Plan was included in the application. One applicant was unsuccessful due to compliance and contractual issues. One applicant was unsuccessful as the project value was significantly in excess of that of the scheme as outlined in the Applicant Guidelines |
| Galway | 2 | One applicant was deemed ineligible as the applicant did not own the land. One applicant was unsuccessful due to low scores in terms of quality and readiness. |
| Kerry | 2 | One applicant was deemed ineligible due to no Project Execution Plan included in the application. One applicant was unsuccessful due to low scores in terms of quality and readiness. |
| Laois | 1 | Applicant was unsuccessful due to low scores in terms of quality and readiness |
| Leitrim | 1 | Applicant was unsuccessful as application does not meet the requisite places to be created in the required age cohort as per the applicant guidelines. |
| Limerick | 1 | Applicant was unsuccessful due to low scores in terms of quality and readiness |
| Louth | 1 | Applicant was unsuccessful as application did not meet the requisite places to be created in the required age cohort as per the applicant guidelines |
| Mayo | 1 | Applicant was unsuccessful due to low scores in terms of quality and readiness |
| Meath | 0 | - |
| Monaghan | 1 | Applicant was unsuccessful as application did not meet the requisite places to be created in the required age cohort as per the applicant guidelines |
| Roscommon | 1 | Applicant was unsuccessful as application did not meet the requisite places to be created in the required age cohort as per the applicant guidelines |
| Waterford | 3 | Two applicants were unsuccessful due to low scores in terms of quality and readiness. One applicant was deemed ineligible due to no Project Execution Plan included in the application |
| Wexford | 1 | Applicant was deemed ineligible due to no Project Execution Plan included in the application. |
My Department is currently considering the possibilities for future capital programmes, including potentially operating another initiative like Building Blocks next year to support the expansion of provision by existing providers. As soon as those details are finalised, I will communicate to the sector.
Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context
1215. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of applications under the building block grant scheme which were unsuccessful due to the fact that the applicant did not own the land; if the Minister will examine a remedy for these providers for future rounds of the programme in order to provide much needed additional capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30359/25]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
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.
Of the 78 applications received, 11 were deemed ineligible and therefore did not progress to the appraisal stage. Of these ineligible applications, two were deemed ineligible on the basis of not owning the land on which they wished to construct.
Ownership of land on which the new premises was to be constructed was key requirement of the construction strand of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme, as notified in advance of the launch of the scheme. This requirement was put in place on foot of legal advice received by my Department about how best to secure the State's interest, over the long term, in a capital asset delivered through public investment.
My Department is considering the possibilities for future capital programmes, including potentially operating another initiative like Building Blocks, to support the expansion of provision by existing providers. As and when those details are finalised, I will communicate to the sector.
No comments