A total of €7 million was provided under the Early Years Capital Programme in 2015. Under this Programme, applications were invited from all early years services contracted to deliver the Department of Children and Youth Affairs childcare programmes. All applications submitted under the following strands were evaluated by Pobal, who administers the Programme on behalf of my Department:
Strand
|
Purpose
|
Eligibility
|
Grant amount
|
Funding available
|
1
|
Significant upgrade (refurbishment or purchase/lease new premises)
|
Open to community/ not-for-profit only
|
Region of €200,000 -
€600,000
|
€5,000,000
|
2
|
Essential maintenance
|
Open to community/ not-for-profit only
|
Up to €50,000
|
3
|
Improve energy performance to improve sustainability
|
Open to community/ not-for-profit only
|
Up to €50,000
|
4
|
Improve quality
|
Open to community/ not-for-profit
and private services
|
Up to €500
|
€2,000,000
|
Under the criteria of the Programme, projects must be completed, and grant funds fully reported, by December 2015. As such, the “readiness” of a project to proceed, and be completed within the timeframe, was a major consideration when Pobal was reviewing the applications. Applicants that could best demonstrate “readiness” were those that:
a) had obtained full planning permission, or could demonstrate that planning was not required;
b) had completed an appropriate tendering process where tenders were still in date and valid; and,
c) had confirmation that the project could be completed within the timeframe available.
Applications that were successful were those that represented the most complete, coherent, precise and compelling cases for funding. The investment is being directed, to the best extent possible, to making the greatest impact by addressing the most urgent works and supporting the quality of services making the greatest impact for disadvantaged children and communities.
I would like to inform the Deputy that details of the funding allocated under the Early Years Capital Programme in 2015, including the information requested by him, is available on www.dcya.gov.ie and www.pobal.ie.
The following table gives details of funding allocated under Strand 1 of the Programme.
-
|
-
|
Funding
|
Rathoe Community Afterschool Group Limited
|
Rathoe, Co. Carlow
|
€ 306,450
|
Newtowncunningham Community Playgroup Limited
|
Newtowncunningham Business Park, Monfad Rd, Newtowncunningham, Co. Donegal
|
€ 260,557
|
Basic Child Care Centre Limited
|
New Retail Park, Station Road, Bundoran, Co. Donegal
|
€ 225,000
|
Dublin West Childcare and Learning Services Company Limited
|
St. Ronan's Community Centre, St. Cuthberts Road, Deansrath, Dublin 22
|
€ 250,000
|
Finglas Childcare Limited
|
1a/2a/3a Church Street, Finglas, Dublin 11
|
€ 585,000
|
Caltra Community Playgroup Limited
|
Caltra, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway
|
€ 199,554
|
Tullaghan Community Playgroup Limited
|
1 Carberry Coast, Tullaghan, Co. Leitrim
|
€ 83,000
|
Rathkeale Community Childcare Limited
|
Well Lane, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick
|
€ 415,713
|
K.P. Childcare Limited
|
The Community Centre, Irishtown, Claremorris, Co. Mayo
|
€ 369,042
|
Rockcorry Community Childcare Services Limited
|
Boyher, Rockcorry, Co. Monaghan
|
€ 86,000
|
|
|
€ 2,780,316
|