Childcare services in Donegal allocated €2.2m  to deliver 165 extra places 

Childcare services across Donegal have been allocated €2.2 million to deliver 165 additional early learning and childcare places.

The funding is being delivered to four childcare providers through the Building Blocks Extension Scheme announced byMinister 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 Centre has been allocated €750,000 for a private extension to deliver 54 additional places, while Spraoi agus Spórt in Carndonagh is getting €750,000 under community purchasing to deliver 55 additional places.

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.

READ NEXT: Gardaí seized three vehicles from uninsured drivers in Cloghan

To protect the State’s investment, early learning and childcare services getting Building Blocks funding will be required to continue to deliver the additional places and to remain as a Core Funding Partner Service operating within the conditions of that scheme for a period of up to 17 years after the date of last payment of the grants.  

The announcement has been welcomed by Donegal TD and 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 to towards the end of the year,” Mr McConalogue said. 

Donegal Senator Nikki Bradley said that €25 million in funding will be a huge boost for parents searching for a place for their child.

“I’m delighted to see that four childcare facilities in Donegal will benefit from this additional funding. This funding will help deliver quality, affordable childcare places for children in Donegal.

“This funding is part of the Building Blocks Extension Scheme, which funds additional places in both community and private early learning facilities. It will deliver additional capacity by supporting existing private and community early learning and childcare providers to extend, purchase or build new premises.

“Having access to affordable, high quality, flexible childcare is crucial for families in Donegal to support families to balance work and care responsibilities. This funding will help childcare providers continue to carry out their excellent services.

“In particular, I’m delighted to see funding of €750,000 for Letterkenny Community Childcare CLG. The staff there provide a fantastic service to so many children in the area, and with this funding more than 50 additional places will be available.

“It is expected that the projects that received funding will begin in the coming months, with many of the additional places coming on stream to towards the end of the year.

“We know that investing in high quality early childcare reaps rewards later in life. Parents in Donegal can be reassured that Fine Gael is doing everything we can to deliver quality, affordable, and flexible childcare places”, she said.