68 applications for scheme to develop eight new childcare facilities across the country

Children's minister Norma Foley announcing the €135m funding for childcare and early learning services in January. Picture: Conor Ó Mearáin / Collins

A Government scheme to acquire and fit out eight buildings for childcare and early learning services this year has drawn 68 applications since its launch last month, children’s minister Norma Foley has said.

She told the Oireachtas children’s committee on Thursday that families could expect all eight facilities to be in place by late this year and early 2027, and to begin accepting children then.

However, there is no indication where these eight facilities will be located as part of the multimillion-euro scheme.

“There is quite a range in the applications,” Ms Foley said. “Some, with the best of intentions, are coming with an idea or a thought for an area that they believe there might be a need. Others are coming and in the process of getting planning permission.

“It will be in the area of greatest need. It will be to provide where there is no provision.” 

Ms Foley announced the €135m scheme last month. Her department described it as a “ground-breaking initiative”.

It will see capital funding used to acquire and fit out, if necessary, buildings to be used for early learning and childcare, forming part of the programme for government aim to “progressively reduce the cost of childcare to €200 per month per child”.

Ms Foley said eight buildings would be selected for the scheme this year, with each centre run as a not-for-profit and providing more than 100 places to ease waiting lists.

Sinn Féin’s Claire Kerrane said the difficulty arose where eight locations were being chosen this year and there were a “lot of areas that want to be one of those eight”.

She highlighted Boyle, Co Roscommon, in her constituency as having a particular need for a service.

Ms Foley acknowledged her advocacy for the area, adding: “You’re 100% right. It will be the miracle of the loaves and fishes at this point.

“But we had to start somewhere and, with the best will in the world, that’s what we’re starting with. These eight provisions, it wouldn’t be possible to have them all at the one point. In terms of the initial applications, there’s a wide disparity in terms of preparedness.” 

Ms Foley said €14m would be spent on the scheme in the first year, with spending to ramp up over the lifetime of this Government.

The minister added some communities may not have funding for a building, or they may have a building but could not afford to fit it out.

“All of this is to ensure that there, where there is an opportunity in an area, the State will provide the funding, and then it will be a not-for-profit that will do the running of it,” she said.