Start up, Supports & Grants

Currently, there are two main financial supports for childminders:

• the Childcare Services Tax Relief for childminders,
• the annual Childminding Development Grant for new and existing childminding services.

How can I avail of the Childcare Services Tax Relief?

To qualify for this Tax Relief, you must:

1. Register with Revenue Online Service (ROS) as a sole trader.
2. Provide the service in your own home
3. Mind no more than three children under 18 at any one time
4. Earn no more than €15,000 gross per annum. This includes all your income from childminding, but you cannot deduct any costs or expenses.
5. Show that you have connected with your local County/City Childcare Committee

To claim the relief, include your childminding income in your tax return (Form 11, section G).  You must claim the relief on or before your tax return due date of 31 October annually.

For the latest complete information, please refer to Childcare Services Relief. 

The Childminding Development Grant 2023 is Now Open!

The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman on 14th June 23 announced the opening of the 2023 Childminding Development Grant.

With a total budget of €250,000, the Childminding Development Grant provides up to €1,000 to assist childminders who are providing a childminding service in their own homes.

It is open to registered and unregistered childminders as well as those who are planning to open a childminding business in 2023.

For the first time, 75% of the grant will be paid in advance, to help childminders with the upfront costs of purchasing equipment.

View the full press release .