Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 February 2018
191. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding allocated for the upgrading of existing childcare accommodation in counties Cavan and Monaghan and the provision of new childcare facilities in 2017; the number of new childcare places provided; the funding drawn down by the end of 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8982/18]
View answer192. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding allocated for the upgrading of existing childcare accommodation and the provision of new childcare facilities in 2017; the number of new childcare places provided; the funding drawn down by the end of 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8983/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together as they relate to 2017's Capital funding programmes for childcare, both nationally and in relation to Counties Cavan and Monaghan.
In 2017, €12.4m in total was made available for the 2017 Early Years and School Age Capital programmes, with a view to improving the quality and capacity of childcare services in Ireland. This amount was allocated in full following a competitive appraisal process.
An estimated 6,093 childcare places were created as a direct result of this funding.
The funding strands for 2017 Early Years and School Age Capital programmes were as follows:
Early Years Strand 1 - New places
Early Years Strand 2 - Building improvements and maintenance
Early Years Strand 3 - Natural Outdoor Play Area
School Age Childcare Strand A - Establishment of new SAC
School Age Childcare Strand B - Expansion of existing SAC
School Age Childcare Strand C - Improvement of existing SAC
The latest figures available (February 19th 2018) detail the total sum of contract values under both 2017 Early Years and School Age Capital programmes as €11,193,295.
|
Strand of capital funding |
Sum of Contract Value (19/2/18) |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_S1 |
€3,449,199.93 |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_S2 |
€2,094,840.47 |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_S3 |
€2,076,342.24 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_SA |
€1,340,711.35 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_SB |
€1,001,419.47 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_SC |
€1,190,781.60 |
|
Total |
€11,153,295.06 |
Per your query, as of 31st December 2017, a total of €10,804,758 of this had been drawn down.
|
Strand of capital funding |
Drawn-down (31/12/17) |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_S1 |
€3,204,538 |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_S2 |
€2,009,171 |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_S3 |
€1,977,702 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_SA |
€1,281,266 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_SB |
€957,527 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_SC |
€1,125,671 |
|
Total |
€10,804,758 |
The remaining balance awaiting draw-down at this point can in part be attributed to successful applicants not having reported on their capital works - and therefore not being able to complete draw-down - by year’s end, for which many applied for and received extensions in acknowledgement of their particular circumstances.
It should be noted that the 2018 Capital programmes, which are intended to operate on a significantly earlier and co-ordinated timeline for delivery, with appraisal decisions due in May 2018, should assist providers in achieving their goals of completing works and final draw-down by year's end.
With respect to your query regarding Cavan and Monaghan, I can inform you that, as of 19th February 2018, the total value of contracts issued under the 2017 Capital programmes in the two counties was €533,168.34.
This funding directly resulted in the creation of an estimated 230 new childcare places.
A breakdown of these figures is as follows:
|
Cavan and Monaghan |
Sum of Contract Value |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_Strand 1 |
€200,000.00 |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_Strand 2 |
€135,344.00 |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_Strand 3 |
€47,853.19 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_Strand A |
€19,599.00 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_Strand B |
€59,215.00 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_Strand C |
€71,157.15 |
|
Total |
€533,168.34 |
At present the application process for Early Years and School Age Capital 2018 is underway, and I hope that it can build on the successes of 2017's programmes, increasing the quality and capacity of childcare services in all counties in Ireland.
