Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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641. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality as per her Department’s announcement in March, to clarify and outline on what date successful applicants of the children’s disability services grant will be provided funding under the grant; the amount of funding to be provided to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35403/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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In October 2023, the HSE, in conjunction with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, launched an open call for applications for the Children’s Disability Service Grant Fund. The Children’s Disability Service Grant Fund is an initiative detailed under action 2.7 of the Roadmap for Service Improvement 2023-2026, Disability Services for Children and Young People.

HSE Evaluation Process

A CDS Grant Scheme Evaluation Panel was formed to assess all applications based on the following criteria:

• Quality and coherence of proposal;

• Contribution to wellbeing of children and families;

• Potential lasting impact;

• Capacity and sustainability of providers to deliver person-centred services and comply with standards;

• Value for money.

Due to the sheer volume of applications and the additional administrative work involved in co-ordinating and collating the proposals, the HSE had to revise the anticipated time-frame for the assessment process and the award of funding to successful proposals.

Confirmation of Funding

It was confirmed on 25th March 2025 that the Department of Children, Disability and Equality had secured sanction for the €8m Grant Fund, with funding allocated from the €3.2 billion disability services budget.

The HSE will engage with the shortlisted applicants regarding the financial and governance requirements in relation to the delivery of projects.