The Government’s National Childcare Investment Programme is a major programme of investment in childcare infrastructure. €575 million has been allocated to the five year programme, including €358 million for capital investment.

It is anticipated that the programme will create up to 50000 new childcare places, with the objective of assisting parents to access affordable, quality childcare.

The programme will seek to:

• cerate 5,000 after-school and 10,000 pre-school education places
• support childcare facilities for disadvantaged parents and their children
• support quality measures for Childminders and Parent & Toddler Groups
• education measures for children and adults in areas of disadvantage

The Childcare Programme will develop quality childcare supports and services, which will be delivered at local level, through the City and County Childcare Committees, uner the co-ordination of POBAL

As a result of the current ecomonic climate the Childcare Directorate has announced the end of the capital grant programme effective from April of this year. Capital grants which have already been approved will continue to be processed however there will no longer be an opportunity for submission of funding applications in 2009/2010.