Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 November 2018
28. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of new and or upgraded childcare places that will be provided through her Department’s capital programme in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45877/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department are currently in the process of developing the capital offering for 2019. It is not possible at this early stage to give a precise figure as to what it will achieve in the coming year.
However, I can confirm that I have secured €8.86m in capital funding for childcare in 2019. This will be used, as ever, in meeting the most pressing needs of the sector and delivering an improved childcare infrastructure for the benefit of the children and parents of Ireland. Part of this allocation is also intended to be used to support the roll-out of the new Affordable Childcare Scheme.
By way of comparison, the total capital allocation for Early Years and school-age childcare sector in 2018 was €6.86m. Capital funding in 2018 was used, amongst other things, to create 1,950 new early years places and 807 new school-age places. It should be noted that these figures are provisional, as work is on-going on the 2018 Capital Programmes, and final reporting has not been completed.
The precise goals and priorities of the childcare capital offering for 2019 have yet to be finalised. An announcement will be made public as soon as the project development process has been completed.
