From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, is pleased to announce today that a total of 370 Parent and Toddler Groups across the country have received funding under the Parent and Toddler Grant Initiative 2023.
Minister O’Gorman secured funding of €250,000 to fund these groups in 2023 and following huge interest from Parent and Toddler groups nationwide, the Minister increased the funding by an additional €100,000 in response to the demand.
City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) work directly with Parent and Toddler Groups in the administration of the grants.
This year, the emphasis was on supporting Parent and Toddler Groups that offer a welcome to families who are newly arrived in Ireland and particularly to families from Ukraine.
On a recent visit to the Mulhuddart Parent and Toddler Group and Buggy Walking Group to see the positive benefits of the grant initiative in action, Minister O’Gorman said:
“Parent and Toddler Groups throughout the country provide essential informal support to parents, grandparents and childminders, as well as to young children. These groups are an important source of social contact especially for new parents and families new to an area."
The Mulhuddart Parent and Toddler Group and Buggy Walking Group organiser Maria Gomez said that the groups could not be run without the funding received from the grant initiative.
Ms Gomez said:
“This is an area of disadvantage, we only charge €2 for the group sessions but sometimes parents do not even have that.
“Without this grant – we received €1,100 this year – we would not be able to pay the rent and buy toys and new equipment."
About 35 parents living in Dublin 15, all from very diverse backgrounds and many of whom are new to Ireland attend the Mulhuddart Parent and Toddler and Buggy Walking Groups on a weekly or occasional basis.
Some of the parents said that before they joined the group, they felt the isolation of being on their own, new to the country, the community and without any family or friends. Joining the group has been ‘amazing and life changing’.
Pia Krumme said:
“I have no family here in Ireland, so being part of a community here in the group with other mums is great for my mental health. It is great to get out and meet other people.
“My daughter was only four months old when I joined the group and it has been so good for her too as she is already a sociable child from being with other children. As a first time mum, I feel that the other mums in this group are acting as role models for me in helping me to raise my child.”
Due her second baby shortly, Libbie Doyle is already looking forward to the resumption of the Buggy Walking Group in September:
“I am hoping that all will go well so I can get out walking with the other mums and my new baby. The networking, social aspect and exercise makes you feel better and is good for your mental health.”
The Parent and Toddler Group Grant Initiative 2023 offered three streams of funding:
1. Funding of €800 for existing groups and €1,100 for the establishment of new groups.
2. Funding of up to €300 to establish and operate Buggy Walking Groups. These Buggy Walking Groups are organised social walks for parents/guardians and young children. The grant was open to any existing or new groups who wished to offer a minimum of six organised walks within their community.
3. Funding of up to €300 for new or existing groups to provide a second session to meet demand. The below table gives a breakdown of Parent and Toddler Group Grant Funding approved and allocated in 2023 by local authority area.
