Tom Brabazon (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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2282. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the planned investment in sustainable childcare infrastructure in Budget 2025, both at national and local level. [41159/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Capital funding that has been allocated to the early learning and childcare sector under the National Development Plan (NDP) has enabled significant investment in early learning and childcare.

In 2025, €25m in voted expenditure was made available for the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme. This will allow existing Core Funding Partner Services extend their existing premises or, in the case of community services, to construct or purchase new premises. This will allow for 50 projects to be funded and to deliver 1,500 additional new full day places for 1-3 year olds.

The approach to capital investment in future years is being considered within the context of the Programme for Government commitments and the revised National Development Plan.

As part of the recent NDP review, published last week, the allocation for my Department has increased to €795 million over the next five years. This increased funding will be used in part to provide additional early learning and childcare places through future capital programmes, including potentially operating a further scheme to support the expansion of provision by existing operators as well as implementing the commitment to capital investment in State-owned facilities. My Department is considering all aspects of future capital programmes.