· €2.5 million for repair, maintenance and
upgrade of community and not-for-profit childcare services
· €0.25 million each for grants to Parent and
Toddler Groups; and Childminding Development Grant Scheme
Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children & Youth Affairs has today
announced the launch of capital funding totalling €3 million for community
childcare services, parent and toddler groups and childminders.
Minister Fitzgerald stated: “I am happy to be in the position, for a third
year in row, to announce a new scheme of capital funding for early years
services. This demonstrates the commitment of this Government to continue
developing quality childcare provision in Ireland.”
The Minister announced that €2.5 million was being made available for the
repair, maintenance and upgrade of community and not-for-profit childcare
services.
The Minister stated: "I am committed to securing the sustainability of
community and not for profit childcare services, particularly in
disadvantaged areas. Many community childcare facilities were built with
State investment. But many are now over ten years old, and issues are
emerging in terms of repair, maintenance and upgrade which must now be
addressed, to ensure that quality childcare services can continue to be
provided and to protect the State’s previous investment."
The €2.5 million being made available for community childcare facilities
will be directed to two specific purposes:
1. Large scale maintenance works: Grants of up to €50k, for buildings
previously in receipt of large-scale Equal Opportunities Childcare
Programme (EOCP) or National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP)
capital funding. This would include works to roofs, windows and
doors, heating and sanitary systems, building access or safety,
replacement of worn fixtures and fittings and essential repairs to
outdoor play areas.
2. Quality improvement and sustainability: Grants of up to 50k for
buildings previously in receipt of large-scale EOCP or NCIP capital
funding for medium or large scale works to improve Building Energy
Rating (BER) to support sustainability.
Applications for these strands can be made from the afternoon of next
Monday, 7th April on the Pobal website.
In addition the Minister announced that she would be allocating €0.25
million to support Parent and Toddler Groups; and a further €0.25 million
to the Childminding Development Grant Scheme, which is an important part of
our support to the many childminders who look after children. The Minister
indicted that this funding will be allocated through the City and County
Childcare Committees.
The Minister also indicated that she hoped to announce details of the next
capital funding scheme for the early year’s sector before the end of the
year, which would commence in early 2015. The Minister said “I am anxious
to ensure that grants for capital funding are available to as many
applicants as possible and that this is facilitated by an early
announcement of a 2015 scheme.”