Written answers

Thursday, 14 July 2016

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

City and County Child Care Committees

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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273. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will take steps to review her Department's allocation framework for funding to county child care committees (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21824/16]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The role of the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) and how they are funded for their role is a matter my Department continues to consider. At present my Department has no budget available to reverse the reduction in the allocation to the CCCs that occurred a few years ago, but it is something which is likely to be reviewed in the future. I recognise and appreciate the valuable work conducted by the CCCs in assisting my Department with the operation of the various childcare schemes, in supporting providers to develop and deliver high quality services and in providing advice to parents. My Department has progressed a number of important initiatives in the last couple of years with essential assistance from the CCCs.

There is a commitment by my Department to review the functions, structures and governance of the CCCs, as well as the National Voluntary Childcare Organisations (NVCOs). This review has not been progressed to date due to the requirement to prioritise other important initiatives within the early years care and education area. The review in question continues to feature in my Department's business plan, but my Department's main priority in 2016, to date, has been to deliver on the initiatives announced in Budget 2016. The 30% increase in funding announced then brings the total investment in childcare to €345m per annum enabling extension of free preschool, the further subsidisation of childcare for low income families and further advancement of our quality agenda.

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