Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2021
937. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way childcare providers can access the funding allocated under Annual Capital Programme 2021 of his Department to assist services complete any outstanding fire safety works required to obtain a fire safety certificate; if the programme is still open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30693/21]
View answerMy Department administers an annual capital funding programme, under which early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) service providers are invited to apply for capital funding.
As the Deputy is aware in 2021 I allocated funding under the capital programme to assist services complete any outstanding fire safety works required to obtain a Fire Safety Certificate.
In January 2021, Pobal invited ELC and SAC services to make an application for fire safety capital funding of between €1,000 and €10,000 to cover remedial works required to receive a Fire Safety Certificate. The closing date for applications was originally 26 February but was extended to 02 March 2021 at the request of service provider representatives. It is not possible to re-open this programme.
Almost €5 million has been allocated across 644 services under this grant programme to help them to carry out remedial fire safety works.
