Grants Available for Childminding in the home

Approval has been given for the introduction of a new, enhanced Childminding Development Grant under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP). This grant will be available from 26th May 2008 until the closure of the NCIP in December 2010. It replaces the previous Childminding Development Grant which was implemented together with the Quality Awareness Programme as part of the Childminding Initiative introduced in 2004 under the EU co-funded Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (ECOP) which closed in December 2007.

The NCIP Childminding Development Grant will continue to be administered by the City and County Childcare Committees and childminders should apply to their CCC.

The maximum grant amount has been increased from €630 to €1,000 and can be claimed against validated expenditure on equipment, toys or minor household adaptations.

As before, the grant cannot exceed 90% of expenditure i.e. where the previous maximum grant required receipts showing expenditure of €700, the new maximum grant will require receipts showing expenditure of €1,111.

It is a condition of the grant that childminders who are subject to the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006 have notified their service to the HSE.

It is not a condition of the grant that Childminders who are outside the scope of the Child Care Regulations complete the voluntary notification systems as provided for in the National Guidelines for Childminders, although this should be encouraged. Participation in the Quality Awareness Programme continues to be a grant condition.

To avail of the grant, a Childminder must give a commitment to operate as a Childminder for not less than 2 years with a pro-rata reduction in the grant level where a shorter-term commitment is given.

Childminders who received a Development Grant under the EOCP during 2004-2007, may apply for funding under the new NCIP scheme. They may also re-apply under the NCIP scheme after 2 years, where their first NCIP grant was at the maximum level, and after a shorter period, on a pro-rata basis, where their first NCIP grant was less than the maximum.

A leaflet for all Childminders on the New Grant Scheme is now available from the Childminding Advisory Officer.