Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 May 2023
683. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of successful applicants for the building blocks improvement grant in 2021, 2022; and 2023 and the total in funding, respectively for each year. [24425/23]
View answer694. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the cost of increasing the building blocks improvement grant to €100,000 from a current ceiling of €75,000. [24436/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 683 and 694 together.
Some €69 million was allocated to the Early Learning and Childcare sector in the revised National Development Plan (NDP) allocation for the period 2023-2025. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars: (1) Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, (2) Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and (3) Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
The €9 million Building Blocks - Improvement Grant was launched by my Department in September 2022 and applicants were advised of the outcome on 4th April 2023. Grants range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: 1. Green Energy (Strand A) and 2. Retrofit (Strand B).
The Green Energy Strand will support the Climate Action Agenda and the Programme for Government, which aim to transition to a carbon neutral economy by the end of 2050 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030. Eligible works include improving the Building Energy Ratings and installing solar panels and heat pumps.
The Retrofit Strand will provide grants to existing services in need of upgrading. Eligible works include refurbishment, upgrading of sanitary facilities, roof repairs/replacement, and upgrading of flooring and windows.
The volume and quality of applications received and the amounts sought were particularly high. Overall, 141 services were successful in their applications.
Payments to all 141 services will be made during 2023. No payments issued in 2021 or 2022.
The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant was part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for early learning and childcare under the National Development Plan designed to meet current and long-term early learning and childcare infrastructure needs.
The design of both the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant scheme and the Innovation Scheme are currently underway. These schemes will aim to address capacity gaps, fund the expansion of existing services and invest in the development of new services where most needed. I hope to provide more details of these two grant schemes in the coming months.
