Parent and Toddler Services

Parent/toddler groups can be a great way of meeting other people with children the same age as yours in your area. While these were traditionally aimed at mothers, they are now aimed at parent as well as minders, grandparents and other guardians. Some are held in local community centres or church halls while others meet in the homes of group members.

You can get information about local groups by asking your GP or district nurse or by checking with your local health centre. You could also try Cuidiú a parent-to-parent voluntary support group, which runs parent and baby/toddler groups in 13 branches nationwide. Rollercoaster.ie includes a section on meeting points for parents in each region of the country. The IPPA also provides information on groups.
If you are specifically interested in a group that focuses on breastfeeding support, you could ask your health nurse as many Health Centres now run Breastfeeding Support Groups. In addition, your local Cuidiu branch is likely to have a breastfeeding counsellor and group. The international organisation La Leche League also runs breastfeeding support groups in Ireland.

Parent & Toddler Group Grants 2010

The Parent and Toddler Group Initiative Grants Scheme is now being operated through a strategic partnership between the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (OMCYA) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) 2006 - 2010.This initiative developed a support and information strategy, in collaboration with City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) nationally, to assist with the promotion and expansion of Parent and Toddler Groups. The grants recognise that Parent & Toddler Groups are providing informal support to Parents/Carers, grandparents and childminders as well as to young children. These groups are an important source of social contact especially for new Parents/Carers and families and those who may be new to an area.

Roscommon County Childcare Committee are working directly with the Health Service Executive by pooling resources for the provision of the Parent & Toddler Group's grants in 2010. The grant scheme for Parent & Toddler Groups will be operated on a flexible basis to respond to the local needs of the groups in accordance with agreed national criteria and an approved local assessment process.

RCCC are delighted to announce that the following groups have been awarded grant funding, from RCCC and the HSE:

Name of group	Funding granted
Croghan Fairy Bush Parent & Toddler Group, Croghan	€1,000
Little Live Wires Parent & Toddler Group, Rooskey	€1,000 (start-up grant)
St. Fidelma’s Parent & Toddler Group, Tulsk	€600
Suck Valley Parent & Toddler Group, Athleague	€1,000 (start-up grant)
Fourmilehouse Parent & Toddler Group, Fourmilehouse	€800
Clooneycolgan Parent & Toddler Group, Clooneycolgan	€800
Brightsparks Parent & Toddler Group, Lisacul	€700
Castlerea Parent & Toddler Group, Castlerea	€1,000
Buttercups Parent & Toddler Group, Tarmonbarry	€500
Turpenbeg Site Parent & Toddler Group, Four Roads (Roscommon Play Bus)	€1,000 (start-up grant)

If you are in County Roscommon and currently operating a Parent & Toddler Group, looking to develop a new group or, would just like to find out more about this funding, please contact Helena McArdle, Childcare Development Officer, RCCC on 094 96 22540.

This programme is funded by the Irish Government under the National Childcare Investment Programme.