Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 March 2023
535. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when grant approval will issue (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15422/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department successfully secured €70 million under the revised National Development Plan (NDP) allocation for the Building Blocks Capital Programme, designed to meet current and long-term Early Learning and Childcare infrastructure needs.
The Building Blocks Capital Programme includes three Pillars:
- An Improvement Grant to improve energy efficiency standards, while also supporting the continuous improvement of the physical environment of services.
- A Capacity Grant to address capacity gaps, to fund an expansion in existing services and investing in the development of new services where most needed
- An Innovation Grant to pilot a range of innovative initiatives such as outdoor early learning and childcare services.
My Department has allocated €9m for The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant for Early Learning and School-age childcare facilities. Grants will range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit. 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.
The deadline for submission of applications was 16 December 2022. There was a very significant number of applications received and it is my intention that applicants will be advised of the outcome of the appraisal process shortly.
