Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the number of applications received in 2025 for Cork county under the building blocks extension grant scheme; the number of these applications approved under this scheme for Cork county; if there will be an increase in the funding allocation for the building blocks extension grant scheme in 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61586/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme was launched in late 2024. The closing date for applications was 30th January 2025. There were four strands to the scheme: Community Construction, Community Extension, Community Purchasing and Private Extension. A total of 78 applications were received with 50 applicants approved to progress to the next stage of the grant process. Following approval, applicants were required to finalise the legal formalities of the scheme and projects are now commencing.

Of the 78 applications received, nine were from Cork, of which four were successful in progression to the next stage of the grant process. Of the nine applications received from Cork, one was deemed ineligible to participate in the scheme. The remaining four applications were not shortlisted for progression as their applications did not meet the required standard in terms of quality and readiness.

The four applications that were successful in being approved to progress include a community extension project, a private extension project and two community construction projects. Combined, these four projects are anticipated to deliver over 100 new full day places for children aged under 3 in Cork. The indicative allocation across the four projects amounts to over €2 million.

As part of the NDP 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, including operating a further scheme similar to Building Blocks to support the expansion of provision by existing operators, as well as implementing my Department's commitment to capital investment in State-led early learning and childcare facilities.

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.

In relation to State ownership of buildings, detailed and extensive policy development and design is ongoing in order to progress to implementation stage, having regard to the wider emerging policy context as set out in the Programme for Government. This very substantial and significant development and offers the potential to influence the nature and volume of provision available and to ensure better alignment with estimated demand.

This work is being led by a new Forward Planning and Delivery Unit which is focused on identifying areas of need, forecasting demand, and planning for the delivery of public supply within the early learning and childcare sector where required.