94. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the uptake in the building blocks extension grant scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20291/25]

Sentiment score: 0.18

As a very proud TD for Dublin Fingal West, one of the youngest constituencies in the country, I cannot understate the demand for childcare. As a mum of eight-year-old twins who has never been able to access childcare, the delivery of additional childcare places is an absolutely priority of mine and I really hope it is of this Government. The Minister might give us an update as to the uptake of the Pobal building blocks scheme to deliver more childcare places.

Sentiment score: 0.28

While I welcome the Pobal scheme, 78 applications is not a lot and 78 additional childcare facilities, or not even childcare facilities, is not sufficient for the demand we have in Ireland and it will certainly not do anything to meet the demands of the people in Dublin Fingal West. Will the Minister look seriously for more funding to support childcare providers in areas of high demand? As I said, I cannot understate the demand in Balbriggan, Skerries, Rush and Lusk. It is one of the youngest constituencies in Ireland - Balbriggan is the youngest large town - and we need to be doing everything we can to support more childcare providers. Fingal is littered with empty sites that are supposed to be childcare facilities and we as a Government need to do everything to make sure they are delivered. I very much hope childcare is a priority of this Government.

Sentiment score: 0.32

That is very welcome news. If the 78 applicants do not take up the €25 million, I ask the Minister to urgently reopen the scheme. Seven weeks was not a very long window for childcare providers to make applications to the scheme, so I would very much like her to look at reopening it if the money is not all utilised. In addition to that, however, I would very much appreciate it if the Minister looked for additional funding. We really need to prioritise areas like mine - Skerries, Balbriggan, Rush and Lusk - and do everything we can to provide more childcare facilities in these areas. We are not just doing families, women and parents a disservice; it is also a loss to the Irish economy. Female participation over the past 40 years has really driven the success of the Irish economy. Our best resource is our highly educated women and men. If we do not have childcare for them, we are failing ourselves as an economy, as well as parents and children who are unbelievably stressed by not having access to childcare.

Sentiment score: 0.23