€5 million in New Capital Funding for Childcare

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.