Capital Grant applications now open

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone announced the opening of applications for the 2019 Early Learning and Care and School Age Capital programmes yesterday, Monday 25th February. 

If you are thinking of applying for a grant, please take note of the deadlines below:

Contact our affinity partners for a highly competitive quote with a discount of at least 8% (terms and conditions apply):

Wesco Ireland

Creative Activity

If you have queries relating to the 2019 Capital Grants, then please contact our Support Point Team on 01 4057103 or at supportpoint@earlychildhoodireland.ie.

Early Learning and Care and School Aged Childcare Services Capital Grants 2019

Overview
The budget for this year’s programmes is €6.106m to be delivered under the following three strands:

• Strand A: Creation of new places for 0-3 year olds (€4.231m)
• Strand B: Fire Safety improvements for community early learning and care services (€0.875m)
• Strand C: Creation of new school age places (€1m)

The focus of the funding in 2019 is to continue the expansion of childcare places for 0-3 year olds and school age children, where the demand for these is clearly evidenced.

Funding is also being made available to aid community/not-for-profit childcare services in addressing fire safety issues that have been highlighted in inspection reports.

Please see below the breakdown between eligible and ineligible costs for Strand A and Strand C which might be helpful.

Strand A – Creation of New Places for 0-3 year olds

Eligible costs for Stand A 

• Alterations and refurbishment works associated with the creation of additional places for 0-3 year olds;
• New build costs associated with the creation of additional places for 0-3 year places;
• The purchase of a prefabricated structure to create additional places for 0-3 year olds;
• Fit-out costs to create additional places for 0-3 year olds;
• Additional play equipment to facilitate the increase in 0-3 year olds attending your services

Ineligible costs for Strand A
This is not an exhaustive list and each cost will be considered on case by case basis as part of the selection process. The following costs are ineligible:

• General office equipment
• Retrospective costs i.e. costs that have been incurred prior to the approval date of the application
• Salary and overhead costs
• Redundancy costs
• Penalties/interest • Professional fees: e.g. architect, engineer, garden designers
• Equipment only under Strand A
• Insurance
• Vehicles and vehicle maintenance costs

Stand C – Creation of New School Aged Childcare Places

Eligible costs for Stand C

• Minor building works
• Painting/decorating
• Age appropriate furniture
• Kitchen equipment, including cookers, fridges and microwaves
• Computer equipment/games
• Storage facilities
• Age appropriate equipment for outdoor and indoor play. The equipment must be appropriate for the developmental level of the children using it.

Ineligible costs for Strand C

• General office equipment
• Retrospective costs i.e. costs that have been incurred prior to the approval date of the application
• Salary and overhead costs
• Redundancy costs
• Penalties/interest
• Professional fees e.g. architect, engineer, garden designers
• Equipment only under Strand A
• Insurance
• Vehicles and vehicle maintenance costs

For more information, please click here. 

To read the press release from DCYA, please click here.