Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Mr. Charlie Flanagan T.D., today
announced that his Department is receiving an additional €5 million in
capital funding this year. The funding is expected to be used to support
quality improvements to childcare services and is additional to the
Department’s existing 2014 capital allocation for childcare of €3.25
million.
The funding is being made available to the Department of Children and Youth
Affairs under the Phase 4 Infrastructure Stimulus which is being introduced
by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Mr. Brendan Howlin T.D.
"I am delighted that this additional funding is being made available to the
early years sector at this time, given the focus which is being placed on
supporting quality improvements in the sector. New National Quality
Standards for early years services, which will form part of the new
regulatory environment, are due to be published in the coming weeks, and
new training and mentoring supports for services are also being put in
place as part of the quality agenda."
The Minister said he would be considering the best options for use of the
additional funding over the coming weeks and hoped to be in a position to
announce more detailed plans by mid-year.