Funding

Early Learning and Care and School Age Capital Programme 2019
•    Strand A:     Creation of new places for 0-3 year olds                                   Minimum grant is €10k, maximum grant is €50k
•    Strand B:     Fire Safety for community early learning and care services     Minimum grant is €3k, maximum grant is €15k
•    Strand C:     Creation of new school age places                                              Minimum grant is €10k, maximum grant is €20k

Timeline for Capital 2019 

Details of funding strands available: 

Strand A:  Purpose of this strand is to fund creation of additional places (or to include for the first time) for 0-3 year olds.  For your application to be considered, you must create at least 3 new places for children under 1 year old and/or at least 5 new places for children 1-3 years old.  You may not apply if you received funding for the creation of new EY places in 2016, 2017 or 2018.

Strand B:  Funding available is to aid community/not-for-profit childcare services in addressing fire safety issues that have been highlighted in inspection reports dated on or after 1st January 2017, i.e. Tusla Inspection Report or HSE Environmental Officer Report or Local Authority Fire Officer Report.

Strand C:  Funding under this strand is for the expansion of an existing school age childcare service or to set up a new facility where demand is currently not being met locally.  Eligible services may be standalone or part of an early years service.

Further details can be found in Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare Capital 2019 Application Guidelines

See the list of successful grant applications in Limerick for 2019 in 2019 Grants Approved

Early Years
•    Strand 1:     New or expanding services     Minimum grant is €20k, maximum grant is €50k
•    Strand 2:     Essential maintenance            Minimum grant is €10k, maximum grant is €20k
•    Strand 3:    Natural outdoor play area       Minimum grant is €3k, maximum grant is €7k

School Age
•    Strand 4:    New or expanding services    Minimum grant is €3k, maximum grant is €20k
•    Strand 5:    Essential maintenance            Minimum grant is €2k, maximum grant is €5k

For the first time, in 2018, Early Years and School Age Childcare Capital programmes will run concurrently. Services will be able to apply online using a single application form through the Programmes Implementation Platform (PIP). The application window will close in March 2018.

Timeline for Capital 2018

                                                                                                                                                    *note: exact dates to follow in January 2018

Details of funding strands available:

Strand 1 will accommodate applications from early years providers who wish to create additional childcare places for children in the 0-5 age range, with particular emphasis on 0-3 places. The maximum grant available under this strand is €50,000 and is intended to allow for the full cost of a minor expansion project or the purchase of a temporary structure to meet local demand.

Eligibility is confined to services that did not receive funding under Strand 1 of EYC 2017.

Strand 2 will provide grants of up to a maximum of €20,000 for building improvements and maintenance and is exclusively for community early years services. These grants are being provided to ensure that community services continue to be fit for purpose and are energy efficient. Grants under this strand will be provided for essential repairs to the existing building and facilities, replacement of the building’s fixtures and fittings, works highlighted as a direct result of an inspection by TUSLA or other competent authorities, works to remove internal divides or rearrange internal spaces to improve efficiency, and/or equipment to improve the quality of service provided.

For applicants who received funding under Strand 2 of EYC 2017, the works or equipment applied for must be materially different from those funded by Strand 2, EYC 2017.

Strand 3 will provide funding for the creation of natural outdoor play areas, to create opportunities for children to play outdoors in a way which promotes physical development, provides health benefits and facilitates children to learn about risk and challenges in a natural and safe environment. This initiative is targeted at early years services of 0-50 children capacity that have not previously availed of such funding. Under early years regulations, services are required to provide outdoor space for children, and this measure seeks to improve the quality of these for small to medium sized services. Services can apply for grants of up to a maximum of €7,000.

Eligibility is confined to services that did not receive funding under Strand 3 of EYC 2017.

Strand 4 will provide funding for school age childcare providers who wish to create additional childcare places through expansion, relocation or the establishment of a new facility to meet demand. The maximum grant available under this strand is €20,000.

Eligibility is confined to services that did not receive funding under Strand A of SAC 2017.

Strand 5 will provide grants of up to a maximum of €5,000 for building improvements and maintenance and is exclusively for community school age services. This strand of funding will provide for improvements in facilities and or to meet safety and security requirements, essential building repairs and equipment to improve quality of the service provided.

For applicants who received funding under SAC 2017, the works or equipment applied for must be materially different from those funded by SAC 2017.

Further details can be found in Capital Grants 2018 – Pre-Application briefting notes and in Applicant guidelines Early Years and School Age Capital 2018

* See the list of successful grant applications in Limerick for 2018 in 2018 Grants Approved

Each year, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) makes funding available for Childminder’s. This funding is administrated locally by Limerick Childcare Committee. The same scale grant of €1,000 is available to Childminders, who are Registered with Tusla or Voluntary Notified to Limerick Childcare Committee. Other eligiblity criteria apply, including completion of the ‘Quality Awareness Programme’ and Proof of Insurance.

The Childminding Development Grant can be used to purchase toys, educational materials and equipment, or make some minor household adaptations to assist the Childminder in developing a quality service.

Applications Forms are available from Limerick Childcare Committee once per year, and are posted to all Childminders, who are Registered with Tusla or Voluntary Notified to Limerick Childcare Committee. Notice of the Application Process is also posted in the Childminding Section of our Website.