More than €198,000 in Government funding has been allocated to expand early learning and childcare capacity in Passage East. The investment will fund a significant extension at Lios na nÓg, a community childcare service, enabling the creation of 10 additional early learning and childcare places for local families.

The funding is part of the Building Blocks Extension Scheme, which aims to support both private and community childcare providers in extending their facilities or acquiring new premises.

In total, 49 community and privately operated services across the country have been shortlisted for support under the scheme. Each successful application has demonstrated a capacity to deliver a net increase in full-time places for children aged one to three years old.

Local families in Passage East are expected to benefit significantly from this development, which will deliver additional quality early learning and childcare options in the area. It comes as part of a wider government effort to enhance the sector and ensure that all children have access to positive, enriching experiences in early childhood education.

The Building Blocks Extension Scheme provides funding under four key categories:

  • Extensions to existing premises for private providers

  • Extensions to existing premises for community providers

  • Purchase of new premises by community providers

  • Construction of new premises by community providers

To safeguard public investment, all participating providers are required to commit to remaining in the Core Funding Partner Service scheme for up to 17 years following the final grant payment. They must also ensure the continued delivery of the newly funded places throughout this period.

Further, all building works under the scheme must comply with Universal Design Guidelines, ensuring full accessibility for children, parents, and staff of all abilities. Each provider submitted a detailed construction plan as part of their application, which was reviewed by a team of architects at the Office of Public Works and appraised for need by Pobal.

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has now contacted the successful services to outline next steps. Construction is expected to begin in the coming months, with many of the new childcare places anticipated to come on stream before the end of the year.

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