Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 February 2021
505. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the role of childcare committees; if it is within their remit to control and put in place an upper limit on the number of childcare places in a particular area to ensure the viability of existing providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5791/21]
View answerThere are 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) located nationwide who are funded by my Department. The role of CCC includes:
- Assisting services in respect of compliance responsibilities
- Assisting services in respect of the Case Management process/sustainability issues
- Delivering training/workshops to services
- Assisting services in respect of Regulatory requirements
- Providing supports to childminders
- Providing information and advice to services in relation to the funding programmes
- Providing information and advice to parents in relation to local early learning and childcare provision, funding programmes and supports (e.g. Access and Inclusion Model)
It is not within the remit of CCC to control or put in place an upper limit on the number of early learning and childcare places in a particular area.
My Department oversees a case management support facility through which local CCCs and Pobal work together to assess and provide assistance to early learning and childcare services in difficulty. This support can include help with completing and interpreting analysis of staff ratios, fee setting, cash flow difficulties, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances. Any service that has concerns about their viability should contact their local CCC in the first instance.
