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 investment in 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.

The Buildings Blocks Extension Scheme is providing investment to existing early learning and childcare providers to expand their provision by means of extensions to existing buildings, or in the case of community not-for-profit operators, to purchase or construct buildings on new sites. The current scheme closed for applications in January 2025.

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.