Minister O’Gorman announces €18 million Capital Grant for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector.

The Building Blocks Capacity Expansion Grant Scheme is part of the wider Building Blocks Capacity Grant Scheme for Early Learning and Childcare under the revised National Development Plan 2021-2030 (NDP).

The primary focus of the Expansion Grant Scheme is to increase capacity in the 1-3 year old (pre ECCE) age range for full day or part-time care. This will be achieved by funding projects that reconfigure or internally renovate existing Early Learning and Childcare services to accommodate additional children in this age category.

The Expansion Grant Scheme will be open to Core Funding partner services.

 

Key features of the Expansion Grant Scheme:

Projects of between €50,000 and €100,000 will be funded to deliver additional capacity, e.g. where services can renovate or upgrade existing space to cater for more children. This grant will be open to both private and community-based services, under the following conditions:

  • Private Providers can apply for funding between €25,000 and €50,000.
  • Community Providers can apply for funding between €50,000 and €100,000.
  • Match funding will be required for privately owned services, with a maximum contribution by the Department of 50% of total project costs. Match funding will not be required of community-led services.

Read the full press release here:  Press Release