Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 547: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is giving consideration to bringing county child care committees under the direct remit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34519/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The 33 City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) were established in 2001 to advance the provision of childcare facilities in their local areas. They comprise local representatives from the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, social partners, childcare providers and parents.

The role of the CCCs was expanded under the National Childcare Investment Programme to enable greater flexibility and responsiveness to local needs, and they had a key role in the development of local childcare infrastructure, quality standards, training and information. More recently, CCCs have been increasingly dedicated to locally managing administrative processes associated with the national childcare programmes (the Community Childcare Subvention programme, the Early Childhood Care and Education programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support programme). They also support the performance and sustainability of services in their respective areas. Each CCC receives funding from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. In 2011, the total amount allocated to the CCCs is €11.3m.

I have no plans to bring the Committees under the direct remit of my Department.