Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am delighted to advise that I have, as of Tuesday 21st April, launched the next phase of the Building Blocks Extension Scheme.

The Building Blocks Extension Scheme phase 2 is a €10 million capital funding scheme to deliver a significant number of additional early learning and childcare places. The scheme is being funded under the updated National Development Plan.

The purpose of the Building Blocks Extension Scheme Phase 2 is to deliver additional capacity in the sector by supporting existing early learning and childcare services to undertake physical extensions to existing premises. The scheme will be open to community and private services that are signed up to the Core Funding Scheme, that commit to continuing in that scheme and adhering to its conditions, particularly in respect of fee management rules.

The aim of the scheme is to tackle the estimated undersupply of full-time places, particularly within the 1-3-year-old age-cohort. Places for children in other age brackets will also be eligible for funding, once services create at least the minimum number of places in the priority age-cohort.

The scheme will have two strands:

• Extensions to existing premises for community services
• Extensions to existing premises for private services

Community services can avail of investment of up to €530,000 for projects up to a total value of €650,000.

Private services can avail of investment of up to €265,000 for projects up to a total value of €650,000, with a minimum of 50% funding to come from the operator.

Thresholds for the scheme have been updated since the previous scheme to reflect construction price inflation.

All projects will be required to accept a charge on the premises to protect the State’s interest in the property and ensure that the capital investment continues to be used for its intended purpose over the long term.

The Building Blocks Extension Scheme Phase 2 will build on the success of the existing Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme which, when completed, will deliver up to 1,500 additional full-time places.

The scheme will run in tandem with and will complement the State-led Early Learning and Childcare Capital Programme, for which €135 million is being made available over the next five years.

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality continues to progress a range of other actions to increase the supply of quality and affordable early learning and childcare, including significantly increased investment in the Core Funding scheme and the National Childcare Scheme over recent budgets.

The closing date of the scheme is end of July to allow for notification of successful applicants in September with a view to contracts being signed by year end in preparation for works to commence from January 2027. Projects will begin to make places available to children from September 2027. City and County Childcare Committees will support the development of applications and implementation of projects.