Avril McMonagle, Donegal Childcare Manager is strongly urging all early childhood services in County Donegal to apply for the new capital grant announced by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs which provides €2.75 million to support the ongoing improvement of the early childhood sector on Ireland.
Donegal County Childcare is offering 142 early childhood service providers across the county a range of advisory supports over the next month to enable them to avail of this opportunity to provide the best learning experiences possible for young children.
The recently announced 2013 funding scheme is smaller than the allocation for 2012 and is expected to be extremely competitive.
The scheme covers improvements in four important areas including small grants to purchase equipment or carry out small maintenance work; grants to improve accessibility of services for children with disabilities, grants to provide natural outdoor spaces that promote active outdoor play and; grants towards critical works to ensure that buildings are fit for purpose under the childcare regulations.
When asked how Donegal early childhood services could improve their chances of being successful in obtaining funding Avril advised ‘The criteria and funding limits of this programme have been designed to ensure the best possible outcome for investment, therefore, it is hugely important that early childhood services carefully review the application guidance document provided and submit applications strictly in line with this.
“For example, if a service is applying for the development of a natural outdoor space it is imperative that the proposal is clear, complete and backed up with the relevant documentation including proof of need and accessibility to/ownership of, the space in question. Value for money is also central so any requests for funding need to be supported by realistic, comparable quotations. When the need to shortlist applications is so competitive, it is remarkable how many applications don’t get passed the first stage due to the omission of one piece of information’
Avril also encouraged early childhood services to ‘keep it local’ by working with local businesses when compiling quotations for natural outdoor play structures in particular.
She said ‘There is a tendency to purchase outdoor adventure structures from big multinational outlets but I would urge early childhood service providers to work with local trades’ people and businesses in Donegal to provide quotations for the development of outdoor play spaces and wooden structures. These can often represent best value for money and can also be used as a sound rationale as part of a funding application regarding access to ongoing maintenance works’.
The programme is now open for applications via the Pobal website www.pobal.ie and applications for funding will be made on-line until Tuesaday 30th April 2013. Full details regarding grant conditions are on the DCCC website www.donegalchildcare.com or on DCCC facebook page www.facebook.com/DonegalChildcare.
For advice and assistance to complete the application please contact Donegal County Childcare on 074 9123442 and ask to speak to a Childcare Development Officer who will provide support and advice regarding the application and appraisal process.