Roderic O’ Gorman, T.D., Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, announced on 1 September 2022 a €10m Capital Grant for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector.  

This grant will help childcare services upgrade, renovate or refurbish Early Learning and Childcare settings to improve the quality of learning environments for children as well as energy efficiency of the settings.

The Building Blocks – Improvement Grant is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare under the National Development Plan.

Grants will range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit.

Applications from eligible services will be accepted in Quarter 4 2022 and successful applicants will be notified in early 2023.

Early Learning and Care Services and School Age Childcare Services who are who are in contract for the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) or ECCE 2022/2023 with at least one child registered are eligible to apply. Successful applicants must be in contract with Core Funding before any funding is released

Welcoming the announcement, Minister O’Gorman said:

“The Building Blocks – Improvement Grant will provide funding of up to €75,000 for upgrading, renovating or refurbishing Early Learning and Childcare settings to improve the quality of learning environments for children as well as energy efficiency of the settings.  This is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme designed to meet current and long-term Early Learning and Childcare infrastructure needs – with details of a €45m Building Blocks – Capacity Grant and a €15m Building Blocks – Innovation Grant to be announced in the coming months.

Services that sign up for the new €221m Core Funding Scheme are eligible for funding under for the Building Blocks Capital Programme.

As well as being a substantial support to the sector in itself, it is my intention that Core Funding will unlock access to a wider package of supports and resources to providers who chose to work in partnership with the State to deliver Early Learning and Childcare for the public good.

The Building Blocks Capital Programme will be just one of an additional incentives on offer”.

You will find more information on the Building Blocks Improvement Grant on the Early Learning and Care and School Age Capital Programmes page here.

The post Minister O’Gorman announces €10m Capital Grant for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector appeared first on Pobal.