Early Childhood Care and Education
Dail Éireann — 2025-11-12
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Norma Foley (FF), Kerry

I thank the Deputy. In terms of capital expenditure, for the early learning and childcare sector that will comprise €36 million in 2026, thereby allowing the Government to accelerate its work to ensure the supply of early learning and childcare meets demand. The year 2026 will see for the first time the acquisition of buildings to provide the infrastructure for State-led early learning and child care delivery, something which is very close to the hearts of most people here, including Deputy Kerrane. For the first time, a public model of early learning and childcare will be provided for.
Alongside this, I will open a further building blocks scheme in 2026 to allow for extensions to existing premises to support services to offer additional full-day places. This follows on from the successful building blocks scheme in 2025 that is currently operating and will deliver up to 1,500 new places for one to three-year-olds. In terms of the delivery of places, extensions will be provided for and there will be a State-led model. We will also ensure that when we have places, we also have staff. The delivery of an ERO is also important, as is the increase in core funding for providers.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2025-11-12/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-21T01:01:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-11-12