A new funding scheme aimed at increasing early learning and childcare capacity in Louth has been announced.
The €10 million capital funding scheme will support the delivery of additional childcare places by allowing services to extend their existing premises.
The Building Blocks Extension Scheme Phase 2 will provide grants to both community and private early learning and childcare services that are Core Funding partner services. The aim is to increase capacity through building extensions.
The scheme is open to services that:
- will offer additional full time places for children aged one to three in the pre ECCE age group
- currently operate part time, sessional or school age childcare services and are willing to expand to provide full time places for children aged one to three
- will commit to opening for a minimum of 46 weeks per year, five days per week and eight hours per day
Deputy Paula Butterly said: “This is good news for early learning and childcare service providers in Louth. Community providers can now apply for a capital grant of between €100,000 and €530,000 to extend their existing premises. Private providers can apply for a capital grant of between €50,000 and €265,000 to extend their existing premises.
“Once completed, extended providers will be required to provide additional full-time places for one to three-year olds, ensuring the delivery of more high quality, affordable places, particularly for young children in Louth.”
The closing date for applications is 31 July 2026. Applicants will have time to engage with design teams and solicitors before the deadline, with decisions expected to be announced in September 2026.
Successful applicants can begin their projects from 1 January 2027, with all developments required to be completed by 31 December 2027.
