Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 June 2023
287. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the successful applicants from childcare facilities for the blocks grant strand B, by company name and geographical area, that is, either country or Dublin postal code, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30252/23]
View answerMy Department was allocated €69m in the National Development Plan (NDP) allocation for the period 2023-2025. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars: Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, Building Blocks - Capacity Grant and a Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
My Department has allocated €9m in 2023 for the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant. Services that signed up for the Core Funding Scheme were eligible to apply for funding under the scheme. Grants range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit.
Strand A, 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.
Strand B, the Retrofit Strand, will provide grants to existing services in need of upgrading. Eligible works include kitchen works and refurbishment, upgrading of sanitary facilities for children and adults, roof repairs/replacement, and upgrading of flooring.
Overall, 946 services submitted applications, out of a total eligible cohort of 4,200 services, which have signed up to Core Funding.
Pobal, who are administering the scheme on behalf of my Department, have put in place an appeals mechanism for unsuccessful applicants. This appeals mechanism is at an advanced stage, however Pobal advise that the current number of successful applicants is subject to change.
My Department intends to publish the full list of successful applicants once the appeals process has been completed. A copy of the list of successful Strand B applicants will be provided to the Deputy at this time.
