Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 276: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date of establishment of the national child care management committee; if this committee is still in existence; the purpose and role of this committee; the number of members of the board of this committee; the number of whom are appointed by her; the person the remaining board members are appointed by; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6296/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the date of establishment of the national child care co-ordinating Committee; if this committee is still in existence; the purpose and role of this committee; the number of members of the board of this committee; the number of whom are appointed by her; the person the remaining board members are appointed by; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6297/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 276 and 277 together.

The National Childcare Strategy: A Report of the Partnership 2000 Expert Working Group on Childcare (1999) recommended the establishment of a National Childcare Management Committee. Following this recommendation a new National Childcare Co-ordinating Committee (NCCC) was established in late 1999 and held it's first meeting on 17th December 1999. The NCCC is chaired by the Office of the Minister for Children (OMC).

When the Committee was first established it was tasked with several functions including to advise in relation to the development of a childcare infrastructure, to advise the Minister in relation to childcare under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, and to develop a co-ordinated approach to childcare provision over the life of the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (EOCP). The NCCC was also tasked to assist in the development of the CCCs, which were successfully launched in 2001, and to initiate research into childcare provision at both national and local level. With the introduction of the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-2010 (NCIP) and the coming to an end of the EOCP, the terms of reference of the NCCC were revised in June 2007 and its functions include providing advice and assistance to the OMC in relation to the National Childcare Strategy 2006-2010, including childcare issues under the NCIP and the National Childcare Training Strategy, and in regard to Sioltá, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education, and the Framework for Early Learning. The NCCC is also tasked with developing a co-ordinated national approach to childcare provision during 2007 -2010.

The Committee currently has 30 members who represent the organisations listed below. Where vacancies arise they are filled, generally, by the nominating body. Office of the Minister for Children (Chair); Department of Education and Science; Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU); Irish Business and Employers Confederation (IBEC); Community Pillar; Farming Pillar (IFA); Regional Assemblies (BMW, S&E); FÁS; HSE; IPPA — The Early Childhood Organisation; Barnardos; Childminding Ireland; National Children's Nurseries Association (NCNA); Forbairt Naoinraí Teo; St Nicholas Montessori Society of Ireland; Irish Steiner Waldorf Early Learning Education Association; National Women's Council of Ireland; County Childcare Committees; Pobal Ltd; Chambers of Commerce Ireland; Planet; Community Groups National Representatives Network; Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education (CEDCE); Dublin Institute of Technology (Childcare Training).