The CMDG is a small capital grant designed to assist existing and potential childminders to enhance the safety and quality of their childminding service.
The CMDG can be used to purchase items that enhance safety and quality in the childminding service. The CMDG also includes provision for purchase of certain IT equipment, subject to conditions. The following list gives examples of the different types of costs that are eligible and ineligible for the
grant. If you are unsure of eligible spend, contact your local City/County Childcare Committee for support.
What is a Childminder Development Capital Grant (CMDG)?
The CMDG is a small capital grant designed to assist existing and potential childminders to enhance safety and quality in their childminding service. This includes eligible items required to meet regulations or that may have arisen during a pre-registration assessment.
What funding is available under the CMDG?
A grant of up to €1,000 is available to childminders. Childminders can apply for the full Childminding Development Grant amount every year, but only certain items may be purchased on an annual basis. (See eligible expenditure below and FAQ document). If the CMDG national budget is oversubscribed, an applicant may receive a lesser amount than applied for. Successful applicants are paid 75% of the grant in advance, and up to the remaining 25% is paid in arrears. Following the submission and approval of the CMDG Expenditure Report and receipts for up to the full amount granted, the CCC will inform the successful childminder as to the balance up to 25% that will be paid. (See FAQs for further details).
Restricted applications
Childminders can apply for up to €1,000 annually. However, due to the expected lifespan of larger capital items, these cannot be purchased annually. Please see eligible expenditure list and FAQ document for further details.
Who is eligible to apply for the funding?
All existing or potential childminders.
What supporting application documentation is required?
· Fully completed application form.
· Evidence of appropriate childminding insurance. (Submit a copy of the schedule of insurance. Insurance must be in date at the time of application).
· Copy of Tusla Children First E-Learning Programme certificate (Must be dated within last 3 years).
· Current Tax Clearance Certificate (see FAQ for further details).
What can the CMDG be used for?
The CMDG can be used to purchase items that enhance safety and quality in the childminding service. The 2025 CMDG also includes provision for purchase of certain IT equipment, subject to conditions. The following list gives examples of the different types of costs that are eligible and ineligible for the grant. If you are unsure of eligible spend, contact your local City/County Childcare Committee for support.
Eligible Spend
1 | Outdoor Areas:
| Sand box; water tray; swing sets; slides; outdoor play equipment; natural outdoor surfacing such as grass or bark/mulch; outdoor fencing; drainage of outdoor areas; storage for outdoor equipment.
Note: Repeat applications for items with a long life span such as storage, and large play equipment such as swing sets, climbing frames, outdoor fencing etc. can only be made once every 5 years (see FAQ document for further details). |
2 | Risky Play | Climbable features such as crawling up and down ramps, wall-bars or a climbing wall; balance ropes with a handrail; stepping stones; timber structures. Loose part materials to develop dens and huts e.g., boxes, sheets, and wooden planks etc. Note: Repeat applications for items with a long life span such as wall bars, climbing walls and ramps can only be made once every 5 years (see FAQ document for further details). |
3 | Gardening area | Gardening materials e.g., plants, herbs, trees, shrubs, soil; materials for the development of flower and herb beds; rakes; shovels; wheelbarrow; watering cans; buckets; spades; gardening gloves etc.
Note: Most of the gardening equipment should be child sized. Equipment such as lawnmowers, hedge trimmers etc. will not be funded (see FAQ document for further details).
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4 | Toys & Books | Developmentally and culturally appropriate toys and books; ride on toys; building blocks; books; dress-up; teddys/dolls/figurines; music; imaginative play items; jigsaws; board games; arts & crafts materials and supplies etc.
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5 | Childcare & Safety Equipment: | Pram; buggy; car seats/booster seats; cot, mattress and linen, including foldable cots (see FAQs for further details); highchair and booster seats; stairgate; fire blanket; fire extinguishers; smoke alarms; carbon monoxide alarms; indoor storage; cupboard locks; first aid kit; blind cord safety clips; etc. |
6 | Supporting Inclusion: | Sensory toys & equipment e.g., black out tent, theraputty, chewlery, weighted blanket; trikes & ride on toys; fidget toys; move and sit cushions; supplies to create a sensory garden, etc.
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7 | IT Equipment | Funding is available for a limited range of small-scale IT equipment such as laptops, tablets, combined printer, copier, scanner to support Tusla registration and participation in e-Learning. Note 1: The maximum grant for IT equipment is €500. Note 2: Repeat applications for IT equipment can only be made once every 3 years (see FAQ document for further details). Note 3: Refurbished items are allowable under the IT Equipment section. A receipt of purchase and proof of warranty will be required (see FAQ document for further details).
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8 | STEAM Science/Technology/Engineering /Arts/Mathematics):
| Science : Light box ; microscope; telescope; etc. Technology: Coding Kits; robot kit; robotic arms; snap electric circuits; cameras; hydraulics; etc. Engineering: Toolbox; stem construction kit; Lego; Lego technic; magnets, etc. Arts: Music & Literature; musical instruments; easels; painting tools and accessories; playdough & accessories; arts and crafts supplies; speakers; lights, etc. Mathematics: Magnet tiles; IQ puzzle games; mathematic games; Rubik’s cubes/tower; measuring equipment, etc.
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| Other allowable expenditure | Delivery costs Specialist installation costs e.g., wired mains fire alarm/ ground works to install a shed/outdoor climbing frame, outdoor fencing, drainage of outdoor areas. |
Ineligible Expenditure
This is a list of examples of ineligible expenditure. If in any doubt, contact your local City/County Childcare Committee |
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Post application information
Unspent/Ineligible funding Procedure
Appeals
Oversubscription Procedure:
If the CMDG funding is oversubscribed all successful applicants will receive an equal percentage of the grant amount applied for on their CMDG application. This percentage will be determined by the reduction required to bring the CMDG national total down to the funding level available.
Important dates
Thursday 30 January | Launch of Childminding Development Grants |
Friday 4 April | Closing date for applications |
Week beginning Monday 19 May | Approval letters begin to issue |
Monday 19 May – Friday 3 October | Expenditure window |
Friday 17 October | Final submission date for expenditure reports and receipts |
Week beginning Monday 10 November | Applicants informed of final balance/recoupment |
Suite 5, Block 6,
Broomhall Business Park,
Rathnew,
Co. Wicklow,
A67 AH39