Donegal childminders allocated €9,000 through development grant

According to the Department, successful applicants will receive information about their grant awards over the coming days

Published 12th Jun 2026, 19:45 BST The Childminding Development Grant is for the purchase of toys and equipment | Pexels According to the Department, successful applicants will receive information about their grant awards over the coming days Sign up to our Donegal Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Donegal Live within your account.

Donegal has been allocated €9,000 in funding through the 2026 Childminding Development Grant.

The grant is to be used for the purchase of toys, childcare equipment, safety equipment, inclusion equipment, arts and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths).

Announced by Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley , the funding forms part of the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-28.

Nationally, €422,240 has been allocated across local authorities and will be given to 424 childminders, the highest number of recipients and the largest amount of funding ever awarded under the scheme.

“I am pleased to announce that an increased number of childminders will benefit from the Childminding Development Grant, supporting them to further enhance the quality and safety of the services they provide,” Minister Foley said. “Childminders are an integral part of Ireland’s early learning and childcare sector, providing essential support to children, families and communities nationwide.

“This is part of the continued commitment to supporting childminders and strengthening their role within the wider early learning and childcare sector.”

Donegal Youth Council gets time to shine at Donegal County Council Sand art created at Donegal beach to mark National Fostering Awareness Month The Grants were open to all childminders; 75% of the grant is paid in advance to help childminders with the upfront costs of purchasing equipment. Successful applicants will receive information about their grant awards over the coming days.

In line with the National Action Plan for Childminding 2021-2028, regulations written specifically for childminders came into effect for the first time in September 2024, making it possible for all childminders to register with Tusla.

This enables families who rely on childminding services to access financial supports through the National Childcare Scheme, while also providing a range of safeguards and assurances of quality.

Those childminders who were previously exempt from regulation have a three-year transition period until 2027 during which they are now able to register with Tusla but are not yet required to do so. The grant can also be used for IT equipment to assist childminders to engage with training and registration processes.

A review of the initial implementation of the Childminding Regulations is set to begin in June. The review will examine childminders’ experiences of the regulations so far as well as the effectiveness of the support and the barriers to registration. It will include an open call for submissions, an online survey and regional focus groups.

To have your say, look out for details of how to get involved through your local City and County Childcare Committees or Facebook

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