Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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232. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding available in the childminding development grant; the number of applications received to date in 2020; the amount of funding approved by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27786/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The total funding that was available for the 2020 Childminder Development Grant round, which has now closed to applicants, was €250,000. The Childminder Development Grant provides up to €1,000 to assist childminders who are providing a childminding service in their own homes, to enhance quality and safety in the service through the purchase of small capital items, equipment, toys or minor adaptation costs. It may also give financial assistance to new or prospective childminders with their initial set-up costs.

This year’s round sees a significant increase in the number of childminders who have been approved to receive the Childminder Development Grant in 2020, with 202 childminders awarded grants this year, a 50% increase from 2019, and a total value of €190,543.

The amount of funding provided in each county is listed below: