merrion street

Grants of up to €5000 to improve existing services
Response to consultation with children on afterschool

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. Katherine Zappone, has
announced funding of €1.2m (strand c) of the School Age Childcare Capital
Scheme to improve existing school age childcare services. This follows the
recent announcement of funding of €2.7m under Strands A and B for new and
existing services to increase the number of childcare places that they
provide.

“I am determined to support childcare providers in their mission to
deliver quality childcare to all our children. I am also determined to
listen to children in terms of what they want. This funding of €1.2m is
specifically targeted at improving the quality of existing school age
childcare services, which was one of the key actions of the Action Plan on
School Age Childcare, published in March of this year. This will be done
through the provision of age appropriate play equipment to stimulate
children mentally and physically. With 263 individual projects set to be
funded, our children right across the country will reap the benefits. This
demonstrates my commitment to provide quality and affordable childcare for
school age children.”

Minister Zappone said:-

“We know from consultations with children that many of them would prefer to
go home when their school day is finished rather than to various forms of
childcare. This funding should help to ensure that when going home is not
possible, children attend school age childcare services that simulate many
of the characteristics of a healthy home environment, including the
comforts and activities children enjoy there. Listening to the voice of the
child is important and this funding is our response to the issues they
raised”.