Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 July 2023
1030. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether steps can be taken to facilitate the opening and/or reopening of crèches in the Dublin 6 and or Dublin 6W areas where a number of crèches have closed down in recent times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36279/23]
View answerSome €69 million has been allocated to the early learning and childcare sector under the National Development Plan 2023-2025. This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars:
• Pillar 1: Building Blocks – Improvement Grant
• Pillar 2: Building Blocks – Capacity Grant
• Pillar 3: Building Blocks – Innovation Grant
The Building Blocks – Improvement Grant is now closed. Under this Pillar, €9m was allocated earlier this year in grants ranging from €35,000 to €75,000 for energy upgrades and retrofit projects.
Work is currently underway on the design and delivery of Pillar 2 which has an allocation of €20 million in 2024 and €25 million in 2025. The Building Blocks – Capacity Grant will address capacity gaps, fund an expansion in existing services and invest in the development of new services where most needed.
A working group has been established to oversee the design and delivery of the Capacity Grant. The group is conducting a need analysis, which will identify areas of unmet need, by geographical area and by age cohort. The group comprises officials from my Department, representatives of the County Childcare Committees and Pobal.
I hope to be in a position to provide more information on the delivery of this Building Blocks – Capacity Grant in the coming weeks.
There are also a number of supports which intending early learning and childcare providers, can access.
City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs), funded by my Department, who offer a wide variety of supports to providers, including advice on setting up an early learning and childcare business, information on grants and low cost local enterprise loans which may be available to services, as well as commercial borrowing. The CCCs also offer support on applying for the various funding schemes administered by my Department. Contact details for all of the CCCs are available at myccc.ie
