Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, has announced a new €135 million programme of State-led early learning and childcare services, funded under the National Development Plan. The initiative marks a significant expansion of the State’s role in directly supporting the delivery of high-quality, accessible childcare where unmet need exists.
The programme will begin in 2026, with capital funding used to acquire and/or refurbish buildings to establish new early learning and childcare services. The Department will work in partnership with not-for-profit providers, which will design and operate the services once opened. Up to eight buildings will be selected for investment in 2026, each providing more than 100 childcare places, with the programme expected to deliver thousands of additional places by 2030.
A key focus of the initiative will be increasing capacity for children aged 1–3, where demand is greatest. The programme will prioritise areas of unmet need, including disadvantaged communities, rural locations and urban areas currently poorly served by childcare provision. It will also seek to rebalance supply in areas with high levels of private provision but limited community-based services.
The Department is engaging with local authorities and State agencies, including the Land Development Agency, to identify suitable sites, with advanced discussions already underway on potential projects. While the initial focus will be on purchasing and refurbishing existing buildings to allow for faster delivery, the construction of new facilities will also be considered over time.
The State-led programme will complement existing private and community childcare provision, alongside continued record levels of Core Funding. Additional measures to expand capacity include a new round of the Building Blocks scheme in 2026 to support extensions to existing services. The programme aims to strengthen childcare availability, support families and communities, and improve access to affordable, high-quality early learning nationwide.
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