Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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116. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will outline the scheme or schemes of grant aid that will be available in 2026 for the upgrading or provision of new childcare accommodation, both for community providers and private providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61588/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the National Development Plan review the allocation for this 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, which will primarily focus on implementing the commitment to capital investment in State-owned early learning and childcare facilities.

As announced in the context of Budget 2026, €36 million will be available in 2026 for early learning and childcare capital programmes. This will include acquisitions of new buildings through the State-led early learning and childcare programme, continued investment in expansion of existing early learning and childcare operators through the Building Blocks scheme and a number of quality initiatives including supports to childminders.

Officials in the Department are currently examining options and detailed specifications for future Building Blocks schemes, and I expect to announce details in early 2026. The Department has no plans for now to introduce a capital scheme to fund the upgrade of existing facilities.