Childcare:

MISSION STATEMENT

"Our strategic focus is to advance the provision of quality, accessible childcare facilities and services in order to counter social marginalisation and injustice and to encourage and promote equality and diversity. The ethos of the County Childcare Committee is to use a co-ordinated approach to enable the development, promotion and provision of quality services as a countrywide level."

The Expert Working Group on Childcare was established by the Government under a commitment in Partnership 2000 in July 1997 to develop a strategy, which integrates the different strands of the current arrangements for the development and delivery of childcare and early educational services. The Group was established in the context of promoting equality for women and especially in promoting equal opportunities in employment. Equal opportunities between women and men means ensuring that women and men can access and participate in the various 'spheres' (e.g. decision making, management) and activities (e.g. training, employment and enterprise) on an equal basis.

The Group, chaired by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, had wide ranging terms of reference and represented relevant Government Departments, social partners, statutory bodies, non-governmental organisations and parents.

The Group recommended the development of a national childcare strategy over a period of 7 years, which includes recommendations for:

Supports for parents with receipted expenses
Supports for childcare
A national registration system for childcare providers and childcare personnel
A local planning and national co-ordination mechanism to develop the childcare sector

The strategy was adopted to ensure the development of a comprehensive national strategy, which would meet the needs of all children and parents and take into account the views of as many childcare interests as possible.

The Government's National Childcare Policy has assigned County/ Area Childcare Committees as the key local component in the development of a co-ordinated approach to quality childcare. Their strategic focus is to advance the provision of quality childcare facilities and services within the designated local areas. The role and function of County Childcare Committees is in addition to other existing support and advisory services (Statutory and non-Statutory) and is expected to reinforce, enhance and provide a co-ordination mechanism at county level.

The main purpose of the Childcare Committees is to assist in the co-ordination of childcare, both nationally and locally and to assist in the prioritisation of funding.

The key aims are:

To develop a co-ordinated strategy for childcare provision in the area/ county
To increase the supply of childcare services and facilities
· To monitor the implementation of the strategy
To support and develop local countywide networks of childcare providers
To update and develop the baseline data provided in the National Childcare Census
To develop an information strategy concerning the provision of childcare within the county
To establish and maintain effective links with the appropriate county structures - County Development Board, Local Development Agency Boards, Health Boards etc.,

Committee Membership:

The principles of inclusion and participation are recognised as essential for the Committee to be an effective forum, and as such the committee is representative of the large number of stakeholders with relevant experience and interest in the development of childcare. The structure is balanced to include representation from the Statutory sector, the Social Partners, Local Development Groups, National Voluntary Childcare Organisations, Parents and Providers of Childcare in the County.

Members Include:	Representing
Eileen Curtis Chairperson	Kilkenny VEC
Ann McDonagh Vice Chairperson	Kilkenny Childcare Network
Joan Williams Treasurer	County Enterprise Board
Darragh Murphy	Barrow Nore Suir Rural Development
Elizabeth Dermody	County Liaison Committee
Brid Brennan	South Eastern Health Board
Mary O’Drisceoil	National Voluntary Childcare Organisations
Stephen Murphy	Community Childcare providers
Mary Coady	National Childcare Voluntary Organisations
Sinead McKeown	Area Development Management
Imelda Pollack	FAS
Staff:	Gretta Murphy County Childcare Co-ordinator Deirdre Power County Childcare Development Worker Catherine Russell Administrator/Information Officer

Contact Details:

Kilkenny County Childcare
Committee
Rear Coill Mhuire
Glendine Road
Kilkenny 056-7752865
kkccc@eircom.net

Childcare Strategy 2002 - 2006