Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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172. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will provide an update on developing State-led early learning and childcare facilities; the number of project proposals received from north Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29189/26]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I recently announced €135 million in capital investment in buildings for high-quality, accessible State-led early learning and childcare. The process will begin in 2026 with investment in buildings in what will be a ground-breaking initiative for this government. Capital funding will be used to acquire and/or fit out the building, depending on requirements.

Up to eight buildings will be selected for investment this year and the State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030 using the €135 million provided in the National Development Plan. The level of investment will ramp up over the lifetime of the Government.

A suite of appraisal tools have been developed, including a forward planning model, in order to select projects that align with programme objectives. One of the programme objectives is to ensure cost effectiveness and timeliness of delivery and the criteria for assessment of this objective include the readiness of projects to deliver.

The Department has received project proposals from a number of sources since the programme was launched which, along with projects which the Department was aware of prior to the programme launching, includes 82 potential projects across the country to date. This includes 13 projects located in Dublin City and 7 projects located Fingal.

These projects are in very different stages of development. Some relate to existing buildings ready to occupy or fit out, while others are longer-term prospects for future years. Not all proposals align with the programme objectives and some may be funded by other means including the next round of Building Blocks. Some projects are proposed by an existing early learning and childcare service provider, while others relate to a building or property only and a separate process to identify an operator would be required.

The Department is aware that this is not an exhaustive number of all projects that could form part of this programme of investment and will continue to seek potential projects for consideration.

Local City and County Childcare Committees will be supporting the development of projects. In the first instance, anyone who might have a suitable premises or project should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee whose details can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-children-disability-and-equality/publications/city-and-county-childcare-committees