Background

County Childcare Committees evolved out of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP). Under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, the EOCP was allocated £344 million/€436.79 million to develop childcare in Ireland.

The focus of development was on increasing both the supply and quality of childcare facilities together with the introduction of a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of childcare services.

The responsibility for developing and co-ordinating childcare services was assigned to The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Department set up a three-pronged structure for this purpose.

Interdepartmental Committee on Childcare.
This is the first prong; its focus is on Policy. Its membership includes all the relevant government departments. Its main tasks are:-

• To examine all childcare initiatives being promoted by departments.
• To ensure initiatives are co-ordinated between departments.
• To develop synergies between departments.
• To resolve difficulties between departments.
• To advise the National Co-ordinating Childcare Committee on developments in childcare policy.

National Co-ordinating Childcare Committee (NCCC)
This is the second prong, its role includes:

• Overseeing the development of a childcare infrastructure in an integrated manner throughout the country.
• Acting as a link to the County Childcare Committees.
• Co-ordinate the delivery of childcare funding under the National Development Plan.

County Childcare Committees (CCC’s)
CCC’s were put in place with the remit to advance the provision of childcare facilities within their local area.

The following tasks were allocated to each county:

• To develop a co-ordinated approach to childcare provision in their area.
• To develop a local childcare information strategy.
• To develop quality statements and targets for the county
• To identify local ‘black spots’ in the provision of childcare and put forward proposals for alleviating the position.
• To promote the establishment of new childcare facilities without displacing existing services.Identify priority objectives for the county.

The Next Phase:
National Childcare Investment Programme (2006 – 2010)

The Government’s National Childcare Investment Programme is a major programme of investment in childcare infrastructure and the Office of the Minister for Children (OMC) is responsible for the implementation of this programme.

It is anticipated that the Programme will create up to 50,000 new childcare places, with the objective of assisting parents to access affordable, quality childcare.

The Childcare Programme will develop quality childcare supports and services, which will be delivered at local level, through the City and County Childcare Committees, under the co-ordination of Pobal.

The Programme seeks to:

• Create 5,000 after-school and 10,000 pre-school education places
• Support childcare facilities for disadvantaged parents and their children
• Support quality measures for Childminders and Parent and Toddler Groups
• Support education measures for children and adults in areas of disadvantage.
  

Strategic Plan