Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 April 2024
155. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there are any plans to provide funding for the construction or assistance of new community creches for the Newcastle area of County Dublin, in view of the changing demographics and the current pressure on childcare services in the area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18368/24]
View answerCapital funding 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 investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars:
• Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;
• Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and
• Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
Significant funding has been set aside for early learning and childcare capital projects over 2024 and 2025. On 7th December last, I announced details of the Building Blocks - Capacity Grant scheme, to be operated over 2024 and 2025, which is aimed at addressing capacity gaps by expanding existing provision through internal renovations and extensions where most needed. Funding will be split into two strands.
Under the Building Blocks Expansion Grant Scheme, applications for which have recently closed, my Department will provide grants for the renovation or reconfiguration of existing Early Learning and Care facilities to deliver additional capacity.
I hope to announce details of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme in the coming months. This strand will provide grants for larger scale extension projects to increase capacity.
As part of the application process, providers will have the opportunity to outline the specific circumstances for their service in their community that demonstrate evidence of need which will be considered as part of the appraisal process.
A Relative Demand Model has also been developed using the latest census data and information on existing provision and enrolments, as well as CSO data on commuting patterns, to generate insights into the extent to which existing levels of supply meet local demand across the country. This analysis will also contribute to the scoring process and enable the funding to be targeted to where it is most needed.
