'Green' funding for eight Mayo childcare providers
Eight childcare providers in Mayo have been successful in securing grants from 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 successful applicants in the Green Energy category are:
• Ballyheane Buttercups, Castlebar €74,501.00 ,
• Haven Community Childcare Centre, Ballina €64,397.75
•Little Treasures Creche, Castlebar €52,873.98.
The successful applications in the Retrofit category are:
• Foxford Childcare Group Ltd €62,718.25
• Lilliputs Pre-school, Claremorris €65,902.10
• Louisburgh Childcare €60,546.58
• Naionra Baile Chruaich Teoranta Ballycroy €75,000.00
• Tots to Teens, Tooreen €38,154.1.
Three Mayo TDs, Minister of State Dara Calleary, Deputy Alan Dillon and Deputy Michael Ring, have welcomed the allocations.
Minister Calleary said: “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."
Deputy Michael Ring said: "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."
Deputy Dillon said: “As every sector try to make less pollution that harms the environment, I'm happy that early learning and childcare providers across County Mayo can now use this grant to install solar panels, insulate their buildings and improve energy efficiency.
"This will mean greener, warmer buildings, with the added benefit of lower running costs for providers."