Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
694. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost to increase the Building Blocks Improvement Grant allocation by 10%, 20%, 25% and 50%. [54880/23]
View answerSome €69 million has been allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). 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.
Under the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, €9 million was allocated earlier this year in grants ranging from €35,000 to €75,000 for energy upgrades and retrofit projects, which have supported services in need of kitchen refurbishments, roof repairs and the replacement of flooring.
This scheme is now closed and my Department does not have any further capital funding available for this grant scheme. The table below provides what would be the indicative costs of increasing the Building Blocks Improvement Grant allocation by varying percentages:
|
Building Blocks – Improvement Grant Allocation |
Increase by 10% |
Increase by 20% |
Increase by 25% |
Increase by 50% |
|
€9,000,000 |
9,900,000 |
€10,800,000 |
€11,250,000 |
€13,500,000 |
Last week I announced a €45 million Capital Grant for the Early Learning and Childcare sector - the Building Blocks – Capacity Grant. The purpose of the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant is to address capacity gaps by expanding existing provision and investing in the development of new provision where most needed.
My Department is undertaking a detailed needs analysis of supply and demand for Early Learning and Childcare and this analysis will identify areas of undersupply across the country and will allow the funding to be targeted at areas most in need.
