1083. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if her Department will consider expanding the building blocks extension scheme for pre-schools to assist with the cost of upgrades such as air conditioning and PV solar panels (details supplied). [65837/26]

The National Development Plan announced last year allocated €197 million for early learning and childcare capital expenditure over a five year period from 2026 to 2030.

The priority for the disbursement of this capital allocation is on supporting the expansion of services and the establishment of new services to increase the numbers of places available for children and families.

This is made available through two programmes, Building Blocks and the State-led early learning and childcare capital programme, both of which are focused on increasing capacity, particularly for younger children.

Since 2025, the Building Blocks capital funding schemes have focused on reconfigurations, extensions, purchases and new builds to deliver more places. The Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme which is currently in operation is actively underway through projects across the country.

The Building Blocks Extension Scheme Phase 2 which will fund projects in 2027 to deliver additional capacity recently closed for applications. The scheme was open to Core Funding Partner Services, both community and private. The aim is to tackle the estimated undersupply of full-time places, particularly within the 1-3-year-old (pre-ECCE) age-cohort. Places for children in other age brackets were also eligible for funding, once the service can create at least the minimum number of places in the priority age-cohort.

Applications under Phase 2 are currently being appraised by the Department with input from the Office of Public Works. Services will be notified of the outcome of this appraisal process in the coming weeks.

Additionally, earlier this year I announced €135 million in capital investment in buildings for high-quality, accessible State-led early learning and childcare up to 2030. The process will begin this year with the acquisition of buildings in what is a ground-breaking initiative for this Government. Capital funding will be used to acquire and/or fit out the buildings, depending on requirements. The State-led initiative will provide thousands of places up to 2030 with funding ramping up over the coming years.

The Department currently does not have funding available to fund the upgrade of existing early learning and childcare services.