A Monaghan councillor has called for the Building Blocks Capital Programme to be "increased substantially."
€45 million was announced for the programme in 2023 and a number of community groups in North Monaghan and elsewhere are awaiting the outcome of that grant funding.
Despite this, Fine Gael's Pauric Clerkin said it's clear that childcare groups in North Monaghan will be competing against one another to secure funding.
Cllr Clerkin outlined his fears in relation to this, stating that while €45 million has been allocated overall, that sum alone could be spent on community childcare projects across Co Monaghan.
As a result of a motion brought forward by Cllr Clerkin, Monaghan MD will write to the Minister for Children Norma Foley, asking that the Building Blocks Capital Programme be increased substantially. Cllr Clerkin says it's important for Minister Foley to take into consideration the current crisis in the childcare sector:
