Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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738. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality the additional supports available for an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37560/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department operates a funding process for Support Organisations (formerly National Voluntary Childcare Organisations). Funding through this process is available to non-governmental organisations and not-for-profit organisations with special interests and expertise in the Early Learning and Care (ELC), School Age Childcare (SAC) and Childminding sector. The funding process offers organisations that support the early years sector the opportunity to submit proposals to apply for funding for work that they will undertake to directly facilitate and support, or to compliment, the Department’s Early Years policy objectives. The total funding amount awarded to organisations for 2025 via this process was €2,847,871.

The Programme for Support Organisations funding process for 2026 is currently live, with decisions yet to issue and an appeals window which will follow those initial decisions. As such, it is not possible to comment on the specific proposals of the organisation in question at this time or on the likely funding levels in 2026 which will be determined at the conclusion of this competitive process.

More broadly, my Department has recognised the importance of Childminders through the introduction of childminding-specific Regulations, which came into effect in September 2024 and allowed for the registration of Childminders with Tusla. Once registered with Tusla, Childminders can also take part in the National Childcare Scheme. Each City and County Childcare Committee employs a Childminding Development Officer, who provides a range of supports to local Childminders, including a short pre-registration training course.

To support childminders, I have also recently announced the award of the Childminding Development Grant for 2025 which is providing more than 400 childminders with up to €1,000 to enhance quality and safety in their service through the purchase of toys and equipment.