About Us
The Clare County Childcare Committee's main purpose is to assist in the co-ordination of childcare, both locally and nationally and to assist in the prioritisation of funding.
The key aims are:
• To develop a co-ordinated approach to childcare provision in the County.
• To increase the supply of childcare services and facilities.
• To implement the Clare County Childcare Committee Strategy 2007-2010*.
• To support and develop local countywide networks of Childcare Providers.
• To update and develop the baseline data provided in the National Childcare Census.
• To establish and maintain effective links with the appropriate County structures and national networks.
• To provide helpful, comprehensive and current best practice information on all aspects of childcare.
• To ensure Childcare Providers have access to appropriate training opportunities.
• To promote childcare as a career.
• To promote family friendly work practices.
*The summary strategy document is available to download on this website – see subheading of 'Strategy' under 'About Us'.
City and County Childcare Committees are the first point of contact for the public in applying for grant assistance under the National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP). Furthermore our aim is to support the national targets for childcare places. Please see the Funding Section on this website for further information. Please note that County/City Childcare Committees have been advised by the Government not to process applications for the foreseeable future for capital/quality related grants, private/community under the NCIP funding programme.
Core Objectives of Clare County Childcare Committee
The role of Clare County Childcare Committee is to implement the following objectives in County Clare:
1. National Childcare Investment Programme (NCIP) – which includes supporting the implementation of the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme, Parent and Toddler Grants, the Childminding Initiative, the Workforce Development Plan and the NCIP target of 5000 school age places.
2. Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE scheme) Free Pre-School Year – which includes supporting the development of this scheme and ECCE services in meeting the requirements of this scheme.
3. Support the National Objective of Developing Quality Childcare - which includes providing training, information and promoting quality standards.
4. Support Parents in Accessing Quality Childcare -which includes providing information to parents on the ECCE scheme and supporting all parents from majority and minority communities in accessing early year’s services.
5. Sustain our own Effectiveness and Standards as a Service Provider – which includes maintaining and developing effective standards as a service provider through appropriate decision making processes.
6. Participate in County level Structures to ensure Integration of Childcare Issues in cross-cutting Policy Areas – which includes networking with childcare providers both community and private, and the networking of Clare County Childcare Committee staff on relevant county and national structures, and influencing national and local policy.
Membership:
Clarecare, HSE, County Development Board, Community Providers Representative, County Enterprise Board, Trade Unions, Parent Representative, Local Development Company, Private Providers Representative, FÁS, Community Forum and Adult Education.
