Minister Denis Naughten is encouraging Roscommon childcare providers to apply for support from a new national €4m fund which aims to increase the quantity and the quality of childcare places.
Commenting on the funding Minister Denis Naughten said “My Cabinet colleague the Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has ambitious plans to change childcare throughout the country. We have to move from having one of the most expensive services in the world to having the best. However in order to achieve this goal we must continue to build up the infrastructure across all communities. This funding is another step towards achieving that goal,” he added.
Minister Naughten says local crèches, community services and other Roscommon childcare providers can apply for funding for new places, maintenance and outdoor play areas. Individual childcare centres can receive funding of up to €50,000 under the 2017 Early Years Capital Funding Scheme. The maximum sum available under this scheme is for major expansions, while €20,000 is available to community based services for maintenance and grants of up to €5,000 are available for play areas. This fund is in addition to €3m announced earlier in March to support those services for children of school-going age.
“These schemes are making a difference on the ground and in the Dail legislation is progressing to allow for major changes to childcare. The laws will be passed before the Autumn. We have to reach a situation where parents are no longer forced to turn down work, training or education because of the high cost of childcare,” concluded Minister Naughten.
Pobal will be responsible for administering the programme. Further details and information on how to make an application for funding will be available shortly on www.pobal.ie .