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Minister O’Gorman announces 37 projects to be funded under the Supporting Parents 2023/24 Parent Peer Support Funding Call

From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Supporting Parents 202324 Parent Peer Support 2 website thumbnail image 07 03 2024

Published on 7 March 2024

Last updated on 7 March 2024

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman, today announced that 37 projects are to receive funding under the 2023/24 Parent Peer Support Fund. Each successful project will receive up to a total of €2,000, which will support the development and promotion of parent peer support activities across the country.

This fund is part of the National Model of Parenting Support Services; Supporting Parents, which seeks to ensure that all parents are confident and capable in their parenting role, helping to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.

Research suggests, parents and those in a parenting role, are more comfortable seeking support from their peers. Parent peer support groups promote healthy parenting skills, an increased sense of empowerment and a feeling of belonging. Parenting peer support groups are particularly helpful for parents of children and young people who are coping with anxiety, depression or other mental health issues and for parents of children with complex care needs.

The Parent Peer Support Fund was initially launched in 2022, with funding being awarded to 25 projects. DCEDIY received a significant level of positive feedback on the value of this funding from services nationally across the community, voluntary and statutory sector. This year, the budget for the Parent Peer Support Fund was increased from €50,000 to €75,000.

Speaking today, Minister O’Gorman commented:

“I am delighted to announce the list of services who will receive funding under the 2023/24 Parent Peer Support Fund. “The wide range and variety of initiatives dedicated to improving outcomes for parents around the country has to be admired. This funding will greatly assist those services who are working directly to provide high quality practical supports to parents and those in a caring role.”

“This additional funding, which has been made available by my Department via this fund, will allow a greater number of parents to benefit from peer support from within their own communities.”

Details of future funding initiatives under the National Model of Parenting Support Services, will be communicated via DCEDIY social media channels.

Successful Projects

Service Name

1. Archways Louth
2. Aspire Ireland
3. Athlone FRC
4. Autism Support Louth/Meath
5. Avista
6. Ballymote FRC
7. Barnardos - Waterford
8. Castlebar Le Cheile FRC
9. Children in Hospital Ireland
10. Croom FRC
11. Cuidiú CLG
12. Dóchas Midwest Autism Support
13. Down Syndrome Ireland Louth/Meath
14. Down Syndrome Limerick
15. FGU Family Resource Centre Rialto
16. Foróige, Mayo Parent Pals
17. Friends of Breastfeeding
18. Home Start Blanchardstown
19. Hospital Family Resource Centre CLG
20. Kinship Care Ireland Dublin (but is a national service)
21. Mary Immaculate College
22. Mayo Women’s Support Service (MWSS)
23. Meitheal, Down Syndrome Tipperary
24. Midleton Family Resource Centre
25. Rathkeale Together
26. Rosemount FRC
27. Saoirse Domestic Violence Service
28. Shannon FRC
29. Southill FRC
30. Special Needs Parents Network Donegal
31. St. Brigid’s Community Centre Donegal
32. St. Micheal’s House, CAMHS Coolock
33. The Crann Centre - Cork
34. This is Me Neurodiversity- Parent Support Group
35. Usher Syndrome Ireland Dublin
36. West Dublin YMCA
37. Young Ballymun

ENDS

Notes for editors

Supporting Parents: a National Model of Parenting Supports 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, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), 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. The initial round of funding was operated on a pilot basis and following positive feedback and high levels of interest in the scheme, it was decided to make further funding available to services supporting parents again this year.

The total funding available under the 2023/24 Parent Peer Support fund was €75,000. Applications for the 2023/24 Parent Support Fund were open from 17 November to 12 December 2023.

Queries can be directed to the Parenting Support Policy Unit by email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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