Childminding Development Grant (CMDG)
The Childminding Development Grant is now open for 2023.
The 2023 Childminding Development Grant was launched by Minister O’Gorman on the 14th June, to read the full press release please click here. This is now an annual grant which can be applied for this year even if you received the CMDG last year. Applications are now open and will close on 14th July 2023, for further details please visit Gov.ie
Excerpt:
“The Grant aims to support the enhancement of quality and safety in the service through the purchase of toys, childcare equipment, safety equipment, and equipment.
It is open to all childminders whether registered with Tusla or not, as well as those who are planning to start childminding in 2023.
For the first time, 75% of the grant will be paid in advance, to help childminders with the upfront costs of purchasing equipment”.
Please be aware it is our understanding that if the CMDG is oversubscribed, the available funding for this year of €250,000, will be divided equally between all the successful applicants i.e. if 500 childminders are successful, then the payment amount would be reduced to €500 per childminder.
If you have any questions about this Grant, please email us on
National Action Plan for Childminding (NAPC)
As referred to in the NAPC, legislation in relation to childminding is to be amended. Please see below the current proposal which was taken to Cabinet in May and approval was given to develop draft legislation. Please note the 3 main proposed implications (highlighted in bold below)
“Childcare Act Amendment
Proposed Legislative Changes – Removal of Exemption Relating to Childminding
The General Scheme removes an exemption relating to childminders to facilitate the future extension of regulation to all paid, non-relative childminders and to allow the Minister to introduce childminder specific regulations. This is in line with actions in the National Action Plan for Childminding (NAPC) and will allow parents who use childminders to access NCS subsidies.
Head 32 allows for a three-year transitional period for registration of childminders. Ensures that childminders may avail of the benefits of a transitional period and make the relevant preparations for registration while continuing to operate their service without fear of prosecution.
Head 40 amends Schedule 1 of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 to include a provision for the vetting of childminders and other adults in the childminder’s household”.
DCEDIY update in relation to changes to Core Funding Year 2 for Tusla Registered childminders.
Q: “Can registered childminders access Core Funding for year 2?
A: “Yes, registered childminders can continue to access Core Funding for programme year 2023/2024.
All Core Funding measures will apply to childminders, except for the minimum base rate allocation.
In line with the approach to Core Funding recommended by the Expert Group report, Partnership for the Public Good, the new funding model can in principle apply to registered childminders and centre-based provision, but there is a need to take into account differences in costs of delivery and other operational differences between childminding and centre-based provision. Given these differences, it is not deemed appropriate to apply the minimum base rate allocation for registered childminders in year 2.
The future funding approach for registered childminders is being considered for programme year 2024/2025 and will be informed by the continued operation of the Core Funding pilot for childminders during year 2 and taking account of the commitments in the National Action Plan for Childminding (2021-2028)”.
Childminding Ireland has a number of issues with the recent ESRI report – click below for full report.
BUDGET PERSPECTIVES 2024 PAPER 3 June 2023
We will be contacting the authors in relation to the conclusions reached (pg15 of report) and will share updates.