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KCCC News
Summer 2008

Childminders Page

New Childminding Development Grant

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 and includes the following improvements:

• The NCIP Childminding Grant will continue to be administered by the County Childcare Committees - childminders in Kildare should apply to the Kildare County Childcare Committee.
• The maximum grant amount has been increased from €630 to €1000 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 €1111.
• 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 system as provided in the National Guidelines for Childminders, . Participation
  in the Quality Awareness Programme (QAP) continues to be a grant condition.
• To avail of the maximum 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 during 2004-2007 may apply for funding under the new scheme. They may also re-apply under the NCIP scheme after 2 years, where their first grant was at the maximum level and, after a shorter period, on a pro-rata basis where their first grant was less than the maximum.

Training Support Fund

Kildare Childminders can apply to the Kildare County Childcare Committee for a subsidy for training costs in the following instances:

• if the training course is relevant to your childminding profession and childminding business
• if the training cost is towards an accredited training course
• where the course has not already been funded or subsidised by KCCC
• if you are currently actively childminding
• if your training commenced/commences in 2008

Applications for the Training Support Fund will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis. KCCC will only be able to accept a limited number of applications. Please contact Fidelma Martin at KCCC for further details or an application form at 045 861307 or devworker@kildarechildcare.ie

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