Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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757. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if childminders can still apply for the childminding development grant; if so, the deadline for applications for the grant; if the grant has been replaced by the childminder reopening grant which is half the value; if other additional grants will be made available to childminders to help further develop or alter their service in view of Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12907/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I can confirm that the Childminding Development Grant will continue to be available in 2020. The Childminding Development Grant scheme will be open for applications from 6July 2020 until 14 August 2020. The Childminding Development Grant has not been replaced by the Childminding Re-opening Grant.

In light of the announcement on 25 June by the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection of the extension of the Enterprise Support Grant for self-employed micro-enterprises that are re-opening their business and transitioning from the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, the value of the Childminding Re-opening Grant has been increased in value from €500 to €1,000, which is the same value as the Childminding Development Grant. This change will ensure whole-of-Government consistency with supports provided for the re-opening of small businesses from the 29^thJune. Childminders who have already applied for the Childminding Reopening Grant will, if eligible for payment, be awarded €1,000, rather than the €500 applied for.

Childminders who are registered with Tusla and who were in contract to provide DCYA programmes on 12 March may be eligible for the Reopening Support Payment and the Covid-19 capital grant that are available to DCYA-funded providers.