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Childcare Capital Funding Doubled to €8.4m : Zappone
More than 2,200 new childcare places pave way for big changes in September
“Accessible affordable quality Childcare needs proper infrastructure”
Statement by Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone

Wednesday, 19th July 2017

Funding to improve childcare services is to be doubled to €8.4m, according to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone.

Minister Zappone has announced that €8.4m in capital funding has been allocated through the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to 683 pre-school providers nationwide; an increase in €4,4m on the amount announced for this programme in March 2017. Minister Zappone says the increase in funding comes at a key moment in Ireland’s move to accessible affordable quality childcare.

The money is to be used to provide more than 2,200 new childcare places, maintenance and building work as well as outdoor play areas and is available for immediate draw-down by the successful applicants.

Minister Zappone said:  “I am delighted to be able to more than double the funding being provided to Early Years Services at this critical time. We are responding to huge demand from Early Years providers. I am confirming that 683 individual projects are set to be funded, reflecting my strong commitment to increasing the capacity and quality of Ireland’s childcare sector.”

The approved 2017 Early Years Capital Funding will be made available to childcare centres, crèches and other Early Years services under three strands:
• Strand 1: New Places (€4.2m – maximum €50k per grant): 89 projects to be funded.
• Strand 2: Building improvements and maintenance (€2.1m maximum €20k per grant, Community only): 131 projects to be funded.
• Strand 3: Natural outdoor play area (€2.1m, maximum €5k per grant): 463 projects to be funded.
The additional funding being announced today is focused in particular on Strands 2 and 3, comprising 594 individual projects, which will benefit in particular community services providing Early Years care, with nine more projects than anticipated also being funded under Strand 1.

Minister Zappone said:- “As Minister, I hold the provision of quality, affordable and accessible childcare as a very highest priority.  This year’s Early Years Capital Funding programme received an overwhelming amount of applications from providers who share these same goals.  This funding will benefit children, families and providers under our Early Years programmes, and will contribute to the development of an infrastructure that is ready to meet the radical new approach to subsidising childcare outlined in Budget 2017.”

Early Years Capital Strand 1

Early Years Capital Strand 2

Early Years Capital Strand 3

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs
Update on Affordable Childcare
Opening remarks by Dr Katherine Zappone TD Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

12th July 2017

"I am very pleased to meet with the Committee this morning to provide an update on the measures, which are being put in place to make childcare more affordable for families from September and to outline the progress that has been made since we last met on 8 February in developing the Affordable Childcare Scheme (ACS).

In particular, I would like to update you on some of the issues raised by the Committee in Pre-Legislative Scrutiny.

Update on measures to make childcare more affordable
On 11 April, I announced a range of measures, which will make childcare more affordable for families from September.

Deputies will be aware that these measures include:

§ universal subsidies, of up to €1,040 per annum per child, which will be available for all children aged between 6 and 36 months; and

§ targeted subsidies, of up to €7,500 per annum per child, which will be delivered to those families who need it most.

It is these targeted subsidies that will open up jobs, training and education for parents who want to lift their families out of poverty.  As a result of these measures, up to 70,000 children will benefit from extra childcare support this September – this will be an important moment.

This is the first big practical step to changing one of the most expensive childcare systems in the world into one of the best.

By addressing the affordability issue we will ease the burden on many parents for whom childcare costs have become a second rent or mortgage."

The Minister up-dated the Joint Oireachtas Committee on areas such as Legislation, ICT approval process, Launch planning, timelines and other preparatory work.

To read the Ministers full remarks please click HERE

Families in crisis receive extra free childcare

Zappone takes further steps to improve access to childcare forfamilies who are homeless and programme refugees

Statement by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone

10th July 2017

Free childcare schemes for families who are homeless and refugees starting new lives in Ireland are to be expanded, according to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone.

Free childcare for families which are homeless is to be extended to include all children aged 12 and under for the summer months and all future school holidays. Children under 5-years-old currently benefit on a year round basis.

In addition children from families who arrive in Ireland from the Mediterranean crisis under the refugee relocation programme will be offered 60 weeks of free childcare – an increase from the current 8-weeks.

Making the announcement Minister Zappone added:

“I believe every child should have access to childcare, no matter what their background, income or family circumstance. It is an ambitious goal but one which we must reach if we are to have genuine accessible affordable quality childcare.

Since the start of the year we have used funding of €8m to offer free services with a daily meal to children aged 5 years and under from families who are homeless. I am now delighted to confirm that this scheme is being extended to include part-time childcare for 6 to 12-year olds over the summer months and during other school breaks.

The extension will not only provide activity for young children but will also ease the huge burden on families who are in very stressful situations.

In addition free childcare for children arriving in Ireland from the European refugee crisis is to be extended from 8 weeks to 60 weeks.

Families arriving into Ireland from the ‘hotspots’ along the Mediterranean will benefit.

The extension will assist integration and create space for parents, guardians and older family members to seek jobs, training and education. It will assist them to resettle and restart their lives in Irish communities which will become home.

Childcare in Ireland is changing forever. We are transforming one of the most expensive systems in the world into one of the best. Accessibility is a key challenge we must address to reach this goal. These announcements underline our commitment to achieve that goal.”

The Minster for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone addressed the Dáil Éireann on the 5th July regarding the first big steps being taken to change Irish Childcare.  The Minsiter also spoke about Quality, pay & conditions, valuing the workfore, administration, community childcare and the early years strategy.

To read the Minister's remarks in full please click HERE