Four Donegal childcare services have been allocated €2.2 million to deliver 165 additional early learning and childcare places.
The funding is being delivered through the Building Blocks Extension Scheme announced by Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley.
Creeslough Community Childcare Services will get €500,000 for a community extension to deliver 44 additional places; the Learning Tree in Kilmacrennan is receiving €195,414 for a private extension to deliver 12 additional places, Letterkenny Community Childcare has been allocated €750,000 for a private extension to deliver 54 additional places, while Spraoi agus Spórt is getting €750,000 under community purchasing to deliver 55 additional places.
Welcoming the announcement, Donegal Minister of State, Charlie McConalogue, said: “In total, 49 community and privately operated services across the country have been shortlisted for funding under the scheme, and I am delighted that four Donegal projects have been allocated funding to provide extra learning and childcare places.
“This is excellent news for parents in these areas.
“I thank Minister Foley and her team at the department for their help and assistance with the local applications. Minister Foley has contacted the successful services to advise them of the next steps. It is expected that the projects will commence in the coming months, with many of the additional places coming on stream towards the end of the year.”
Deputy Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher has also welcomed the funding.
He was high in praise for the committees, parents and all associated in securing the grants for this very important Scheme.
Deputy Gallagher said he agreed with Minister Foley’s assertion that we need to go further to support parents, educators, practitioners and providers across the early learning and childcare sector, with the focus always on ensuring positive experiences for children.
Nationally, €25 million has been allocated to deliver 1,500 additional early learning and childcare places.
All early learning and childcare services were required to deliver net increases in full-time places for one to three-year-olds in order to qualify for Building Blocks funding.
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