Some €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:
• Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;
• Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and
• Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
Under the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, €9 million was allocated in 2023 in grants ranging from €35,000 to €75,000 for energy upgrades and retrofit projects, which have supported services in need of upgrading, such as kitchen refurbishments, roof repairs and the replacement of flooring. This scheme is now closed.
Some €45 million has been set aside under Pillar 2 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.
The Building Blocks Expansion Grant Scheme will open for applications in the coming weeks. The scheme will provide grants for the renovation or reconfiguration of the existing Early Learning and Care facilities. In order to be eligible for funding, services must commit to increasing their service provision in the 1 - 3-year-old (pre-ECCE) age group.
I hope to announce details of the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme in the coming months. The scheme will provide grants for larger scale extensions. As with the Expansion Grant Scheme, priority will be given to the extension of full-time and part-time places within the 1 - 3-year-old (pre-ECCE) age groups, within areas of identified undersupply.
Both schemes are open to early learning and childcare services that are Tusla registered and are in contract with Core Funding, at the time of application.
€15 million has been set aside for the Building Blocks - Innovation Grant which offers the opportunity to adopt new approaches to the development of new early learning and childcare infrastructure. This strand is currently in an early design phase.
