Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman has published the list of successful applicants to the €9 million Building Blocks – Improvement Grant 2023.
Grants awarded range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit.
The Green Energy Strand supports the Climate Action Agenda and the Programme for Government, which aim to transition to a carbon neutral economy by the end of 2050 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030. Under this Strand, grants are being provided to help services to increase their energy efficiency by utilising renewables, where feasible, through the installation of solar panels, heat pumps and insulation.
The Retrofit Strand is supporting existing services in need of upgrading. Eligible works include kitchen refurbishment, upgrading of sanitary facilities for children and adults, roof repairs, and the replacement and upgrading of flooring.
In total, 151 services across the country have been awarded grants under the scheme.
Making the announcement, Minister O’Gorman said, “as every sector aims to reduce carbon emissions, in line with Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, I am delighted that early learning and childcare providers across the country will be using these grants to install solar panels, insulate buildings and improve energy efficiency. This will mean greener, warmer buildings, with the added benefit of lower running costs for providers. In addition, through the retrofit grant, providers will now have an opportunity to make small changes that can have a big difference, such as new floors, doors and kitchens.”
“The Building Blocks – Improvement Grant is part of a wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for early learning and childcare under the National Development Plan designed to meet current and long-term early learning and childcare infrastructure needs. Some €69 million has been allocated to my Department over 2023-2025 through the revised NDP for the Building Blocks Capital Programme.”
“Work is currently underway on the design and delivery of the Building Blocks – Capacity Grant which has an allocation of €20 million in 2024 and €25 million in 2025. The Capacity Grant will fund an expansion in existing services and invest in new services where most needed. A further €15 million will be made available under the Building Blocks – Innovation Grant which will pilot a range of innovative initiatives. I hope to be in a position to provide more information on the delivery of these schemes in the coming months.”
