Minister Foley Announces Funding for 49 Parenting Peer Support Projects
- Published on: 11 March 2026
- Last updated on: 11 March 2026
Minister for Children, Disability, and Equality, Norma Foley, has today announced details of 49 parenting peer support projects.
Parent peer support is when parents support each other by sharing knowledge, reducing feelings of isolation, and providing encouragement to navigate challenges and achieve well-being.
This includes peer support for parents who share similar life experiences, such as raising a child with complex needs or a mental health condition.
Research suggests parents are more comfortable seeking support from their peers and that parent peer support projects promote healthy parenting skills, an increased sense of empowerment, and a feeling of belonging.
This year, the total value of the Supporting Parents, Parent Peer Support Fund 2026 has increased from €100,000 to €152,500. The total number of services awarded funding has increased from 42 to 49.
Grants of up to €5,000 are being provided to organisations working with parents and/or carers to support them to develop parent peer support initiatives.
Minister Foley said:
“I am delighted to announce the details of the projects which are being supported by the 2025/26 Parent Peer Support Fund.
It is clear that there are many positive benefits of these programmes where parents support parents. This is why I have expanded the funding available, allowing us to directly support delivery of a greater number of peer support projects across the country.”
Twelve projects will receive grants of €5,000 to expand an existing parenting support initiative which is already working for parents, while 37 projects will receive grants of €2,500 to continue operating or to establish a new parent peer support initiative.
This funding is part of Supporting Parents, A National Model of Parenting Support Services, which seeks to ensure that all parents and carers are confident and capable in their parenting role, helping to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.
The 2026 fund supports a broad range of peer led initiatives, including supports for parents of children with additional needs, to programmes for families affected by domestic violence, and parents of LGBTIQ+ children.
Tier 1 of the fund provides grants of €2,500 to successful applicants who either currently operate, or wish to establish a new parent peer support project.
Tier 2 provides grants of €5,000 to successful applicants who wish to scale up an existing parent peer support project that has been proven to have a positive impact for parents.
Details of future funding initiatives under the National Model of Parenting Support Services will be communicated via the Department website and social media channels later this year.
Successful applicants
| Service Name | Service Address | Funding Awarded |
| Shannon Family Resource Centre | Rineanna View, Co. Clare, V14 XV97 | €5,000 |
| FASD Ireland | 51 O’Connell Street, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95 YY19 |
€2,500 |
| Cork Deaf Association | 5 Mac Curtain Street, Cork City, Co. Cork, T23 KD39 |
€2,500 |
| Macroom Family Resource Centre | €2,500 | |
| The Together Collective | Sackville Street, Dunmanway, Co. Cork, P47 V500 |
€2,500 |
| The Crann Centre | Classis Road, Ovens, Co. Cork, P31 PX39 |
€2,500 |
| Spraoi agus Spórt CLG | Unit 7 SuperValu, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal, F93 AY6D |
€2,500 |
| F2 Centre, 3 Reuben Plaza, Dublin 8, D08 DKP6 |
€5,000 | |
| Saoirse Domestic Violence Services | Unit 23, Block 3, Village Green, Tallaght, Dublin, |
€5,000 |
| Dublin City Council Arts Office (Gaeilge 365) |
Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8, D08RF3F |
€5,000 |
| Children in Hospital Ireland | €5,000 | |
| Belong To LGBTQ+ Ireland | €2,500 | |
| Early Learning Initiative | €2,500 | |
| Arfid Advocacy Ireland | 6 Fern Road, Sandyford, Dublin 18, D18 FP98 |
€2,500 |
| Aoibheann’s Pink Tie | €2,500 | |
| Muscular Dystrophy Ireland | 75 Lucan Road, Chapelizod, Dublin 20, D20 DR77 |
€2,500 |
| €2,500 | ||
| The Liberties Project | 90 Meath Street, Dublin 8, D08 TPH9 | €2,500 |
| €5,000 | ||
| Ballinasloe Social Services | €2,500 | |
| COPE Galway | €2,500 | |
| Gort Family Resource Centre | €2,500 | |
| Rosedale Special School | €2,500 | |
| West End House School of Arts | New Street, Killarney, Co. Kerry, V93 HH64 |
€2,500 |
| Kildare County Childcare Committee | €2,500 | |
| Southill Family Resource Centre | €5,000 | |
| Dóchas Midwest Autism Support | 14 Parnell Street, Co. Limerick, V94 D378 |
€5,000 |
| Down Syndrome Limerick | €2,500 | |
| Croom Family Resource Centre | €2,500 | |
| Hospital Family Resource Centre CLG | Nockainey Road, Co. Limerick, V35 RP26 |
€2,500 |
| Northside Family Resource Centre | €2,500 | |
| Phoenix Creative Psychotherapy Centre |
€2,500 | |
| Drogheda Women’s and Children’s Refuge Centre |
Priest Lane, Drogheda, Co. Louth, A92 N90P |
€5,000 |
| Erris Family and Community Support Centre |
€2,500 | |
| €2,500 | ||
| Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services |
39 Flower Hill, Navan, Co. Meath, C15 HF72 |
€2,500 |
| Trimm Family Resource Centre | 22 Mornington Drive, Trimm, Co. Meath, C15 R853 |
€2,500 |
| Trim Autism Friendly Town Committee | Ballardin, Dunderry, Trim, Co. Meath, C15 YFH9 |
€2,500 |
| South Roscommon Family Resource Centre |
€2,500 | |
| Lifestart Supporting Parents | €2,500 | |
| €2,500 | ||
| Responds Family Support Service |
Airmount, Dominic Place Co. Waterford, X91 A397 |
€5,000 |
| Autism Support Dungarvan | €5,000 | |
| Chronic Health Advocate CLG | Kilcannon, Dunhill Co. Waterford, X91F2Y9 |
€5,000 |
| St Brigids Family and Community Centre |
37 Lower Yellow Road, Co. Waterford, X91 C7WT |
€2,500 |
| Waterford PETE | €2,500 | |
| The Behaviour Clinic | €2,500 | |
| Finding Motherhood | €2,500 | |
| Purple House Cancer Support | €2,500 |
Notes to Editor
Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support Services was developed in accordance with a commitment in First 5, a whole of government strategy for babies, young children and their families 2019-2028. The model was developed by a collaborative working group led by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE), with input from a wide range of stakeholders from across government departments, agencies and community and voluntary organisations.
The Parent Peer Support Fund builds on commitments set out within Supporting Parents, through the provision of funding for the enhancement and promotion of supports to assist parents. This fund has been in operation since 2023 and is open to community, voluntary and statutory organisations who operate parent peer support initiatives.
Applications for the 2026 Parent Peer Support Fund were open from 30 September to 31 October 2025, with total funding of €152,500 being distributed among 49 organisations.
Queries can be directed to parentingsupport@dcde.gov.ie