Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the discussions she has had with the Health Service Executive regarding complementary funding supports to county childcare committees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56713/12]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way she will fund child minders advisory worker posts in county childcare committees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56710/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 101 together.

The City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) are funded by my Department to assist it in implementing its early years programmes, including supporting service providers and advising parents, at local level. In 2012, the total amount allocated by my Department to the CCCs was €11.3 million.

Childminding advisory officers have been funded in the past by the Health Service Executive (HSE), in a number of counties, often directly through the local Childcare Committee. I understand that there has been a reduction in this funding in recent years and I have asked my Department to engage with the HSE and CCCs on this matter and report. This issue will also be looked at in the context of the move of support services for children and families from the HSE to the new Child and Family Support Agency, later this year.