My Department administers an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and care and school age childcare services can apply for capital funding for specific projects. The purpose or target of the funding is determined on an annual basis having regard to the needs of children, families and service providers, and Departmental priorities. A total of €8.3million is available in 2021.
In recent years, a key objective of the funding has been to extend capacity, but in 2021, my Department is responding to a different need. As the Deputy points out, services are required to provide Fire Safety Certificates as part of the re-registration process. Many services have already re-registered and submitted a fire safety certificate and some have re-registered subject to submitting an up to date Fire Safety Certificate in 2021. Some services may need to carry out remedial works to receive a Fire Safety Certificate, but the costs for this can be prohibitive, especially in the current extenuating circumstances of COVID.
Given that my absolute priority to keep children safe, I have decided that the first call on the 2021 capital funding will be given to ensuring fire safety in early learning and childcare services around the country. With this in mind, my Department will offer a Fire Safety Capital Grant through Pobal in early 2021 to contribute towards the costs of required remedial works. Only expenditure from 01 January 2021 to 30 November 2021 will be eligible. Pobal will provide further details to providers shortly.
If any of the €8.3million available is not required for this purpose, my Department will distribute the balance by way of a second round of grants, which will focus on outdoor play. Further detail on this will be announced in early April 2021.
