Your Go-To Guide to City and County Childcare Committees in Ireland

For parents or guardians with young children in Ireland, City and County Childcare Committees are a great avenue for learning more about your local services. You might be new to the county or area, or transitioning back to work, and so having the option to reach out and connect with information support services locally, can be a gamechanger and really ease the transition. Your local City and County Childcare Committees offer a range of services, from early years education to information and support. In this blog post, we share with you all the information you need to know about these committees in Ireland. 

What is a County Childcare Committee?

In total there are 31 City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) servicing areas all over the 26 counties. The CCCs were set up in 2001 with their primary purpose to promote and support the provision of quality and accessible childcare services in their respective areas. They are statutory bodies, established under the Child Care Act 1991. They are funded through Pobal, on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth, and take a child-centered, partnership approach.

How can Your Local City / County Childcare Committee Help You?

How City / County Childcare Committees can help Parents

CCC’s provide a range of services and supports to parents such as guidance on:

• the types of childcare available in your area,
• what to consider when choosing the right childcare for your family,
• funding options for childcare, and,
• parental rights and entitlements.

Alongside these, the CCCs also offer a range of other supports for parents including a free parent helpline offering advice on all aspects of childcare; a network of parent support groups which parents can link in with and which meet regularly to discuss topics related to parenting young children; and provide training courses for parents on topics such as child development and positive parenting skills. 

How City / County Childcare Committees can help Childcare Providers

CCCs provide a range of services for childcare providers too, including:

• advice on starting a childcare business,
• childcare information sessions, and have a network of other childcare providers which you can connect with to share ideas and best practice,
• training courses in childcare, on topics such as child development, play, and positive behaviour management, and,
• advice on applying for government funding opportunities for your childcare business.

So, if you’re thinking of starting a childcare business, or if you’re already running one, you should check in with your local committee and see what’s out there to support you to develop and grow your business. 

Find Your Local City / County Childcare Committee

Whether you’re a parent or childcare provider, if you’d like to get in touch with your local CCC, you can find all the information you need on the relevant websites below. To access a map, see here.

Their services are well worth checking out, so be sure to get in touch with your local City or County Childcare Committee to find out more and even to touch base for future reference. They can provide you with all the information and support you need to make sure your child gets the best possible start!

And one last thing for the parents, be sure to check out the information here on the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) which provides support to assist with childcare costs. This website also has a very useful subsidy calculator too. 

Here at SureSitter, we’re big believers in empowering parents and using services such as the CCCs and information sites like that of the NCS are a great way to get started.  Knowing where to start can be half the battle. Our best advise is to make things as straightforward as possible, search for your local committee, check in and get moving with the support and information you need.