Submit Entries for Parent Peer Support Fund for Organisations (Ireland)

The Department of Children, Disability and Equality (DCDE) has opened applications for the 2026–27 Parent Peer Support Fund with a total funding pool of €177,500. The fund supports organisations working with parents and/or carers to develop or scale parent peer support initiatives. Applications must be submitted by Monday 2 November 2026 (funding is expected to be made available to successful applicants in early 2027). The Parent Peer Support Fund supports parent peer support, where parents support each other by sharing knowledge, reducing feelings of isolation, and providing encouragement to navigate challenges and achieve well-being. DCDE describes this year’s fund as the largest since the programme launched in 2022. It is intended to enable organisations to run projects that are led by parents, for parents, and to enhance and promote parent support services under the national model Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parent Support Services. Under the Parent Peer Support Fund 2026–27, DCDE will provide grants to organisations through two tiers: DCDE also states that a total of €177,500 will be awarded to 56 services this year. Based on the information provided in the source press release, the fund is for: Further eligibility details, including any organisational requirements or exclusions, are not specified in the provided source text. Applicants should consult the Funding Guidance and Terms and Conditions linked by DCDE (see How to Apply). The press release indicates that the fund supports parent peer support initiatives for parents and/or carers, including (as examples): DCDE also references that previous funding supported a range of projects, including support for parents who have experienced domestic violence, and parents whose children are in hospital, are LGBT, or have additional support needs. However, priority areas for 2026–27 beyond the examples above are not specified in the provided source text. This fund is designed to strengthen parent-to-parent support in communities across Ireland by enabling organisations to run projects led by parents, for parents. For eligible organisations, the two-tier structure supports both: DCDE notes that it increased the overall funding for 2026–27 by 13% (as stated in the press release) to allow greater numbers of parents to benefit from parent peer support initiatives across the country throughout 2027. (The source page lists these links “below,” but the exact URLs are not included in the provided text.) Submission method: Not specified in the provided source text. Applicants should follow the instructions in the official application guidance and the forms linked on the DCDE page.

Official source: DCDE press release page: Minister Foley announces that the largest ever Parent Peer Support Fund is now open for applications

What is the Parent Peer Support Fund 2026–27? It is an annual grant programme run by DCDE to support organisations working with parents and/or carers to develop parent peer support initiatives in Ireland. How much total funding is available? The total funding pool for 2026–27 is €177,500, to be awarded to 56 services. What are the grant amounts and how many awards are expected? DCDE states Tier 1 provides €2,500 grants to 41 successful applicants, and Tier 2 provides €5,000 grants to 15 successful applicants. Who can apply? Organisations working with parents and/or carers, with tier eligibility depending on whether the project is currently operating/new (Tier 1) or being scaled up (Tier 2). Specific organisational requirements are not detailed in the provided text. What is the application deadline? Applications must be submitted by Monday 2 November 2026. When will funding be made available? DCDE states funding will be made available to successful applicants in early 2027. Where can I find the application forms and guidance? The press release states that the relevant application forms and the funding Guidance and Terms and Conditions are available on the DCDE page “below.” The exact file links are not shown in the provided article text. Eligible organisations should review the official Guidelines, Terms and Conditions, and complete the correct Tier 1 (€2,500) or Tier 2 (€5,000) application form before the 2 November 2026 deadline. For questions not covered in the guidance, contact [contact details removed] as listed in the DCDE press release.