Introduction to Limerick Childcare Committee

Limerick Childcare Committee was established in January 2014 following the merger of County Limerick Childcare Committee and Limerick City Childcare Committee.

  • We are responsible for the local delivery of the National Childcare Programmes/Schemes, which are operated by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
  • We are the central point of information for childcare providers and parents in Limerick City and County, on matters relating to Early Years Care and Education. Working in partnership with relevant organisations and government departments, we provide information on a range of issues and government programmes.
  • We are committed to providing access to professional development opportunities for the Early Years Care and Education sector in Limerick City and County, through the provision of regular workshops and training programmes, including delivery of Early Years Children First Child Protection & Welfare Training.
  • We operate a Childcare Resource Library which provides access to over 1000 publications on a wide range of Early Years Care and Education topics, such as parenting, play, child development, setting-up and managing a childcare service, etc.
  • We work in partnership with relevant stakeholders to support the Early Years (Childcare) Sector in Limerick.

 

Mission Statement

To Promote the development of a co-ordinated, integrated, inclusive, strategic approach to the delivery of accessible, affordable, culturally appropriate, high quality childcare services that meet the overall developmental needs of children whilst supporting parents/guardians.

Core Objectives

The 5 core objectives of Limerick Childcare Committee, common to all Childcare Committees, are in line with the National Strategy:

  • Objective 1 – To develop comprehensive childcare supports, infrastructure and service where the holistic well-being of children and families are fundamental;
  • Objective 2 – To enhance quality early childhood education and care and school-age provision;
  • Objective 3 – The consolidate investment in the sector in order to support the continuing development of stable, integrated and sustainable infrastructure;
  • Objective 4 – Through ongoing professional development, to build on the capacity of the Early Childhood Care and Education sector to enhance and develop quality services for children and their families;
  • Objective 5 – To ensure effective and transparent collaboration, communication and consultation, and optimum use of resources by the stakeholders in early childhood care and education.

Underpinned by an ethos of collaborative working, the following areas have been identified by the Childcare Directorate of the DCYA, in conjunction with the Early Years Education & Policy Unit in the Department of Education and Science (DES) as priorities for 2015:

Ongoing Work

Quality Agenda

  • Supporting the development of Better Start – the National Early Years Quality Support Service and the local delivery by the Childcare Committees
  • Implementation of the Learner Fund at local level to upskill staff to Level 5 & 6
  • Delivery of Early Years Children First Childcare Protection

Committee Details

Committee Member Representing
Ms Joan Condon (Chair) ICTU
Mr. James Lynch (vice Chair) Dept. of Social Protection
Ms. Pamela Walsh (Secretary) Private Childcare Provider
Mr. Donal Cooper (Treasurer) Parent Representative/Community & Voluntary Forum
Ms. Sandra Burke Teen Parents Support Programme
Ms. Michelle O’Doherty Community Childcare Provider
Ms. Amanda Jordan Community Childcare Provider
Ms. Ciara Farrell Limerick City & County Council
Ms. Ann McMahon Education
Mr. Des Carswell Education
Ms. Jean Currid National Voluntary Childcare Organisations
Ms. Catherine Smyth Ballyhoura Development Ltd.
Ms. Leonie Kerins Doras Luimní
Vacant Limerick & Clare Education & Training Board
Vacant PAUL Partnership
Vacant West Limerick Resources

Staff Details

Manager Anne Delaney
Information Officer Marie McElhinney
Administrator Elaine Scanlan
Administrative Support Worker Niamh Lenihan O’Brien

Childcare Development Officers

East Limerick Rosemary Moore
West Limerick Catriona Sheehy
Limerick City Marie Thérèse Marry

Overview

In 2000, thirty three Childcare Committees were established across Ireland which included Limerick City and Limerick County Childcare Committees. In 2014 the Limerick City and County Committees merged to form one, Limerick Childcare Committee.

The role of the Committee is to support the implementation of national childcare policy at local level on behalf of the Department of Children & Youth Affairs (DCYA), in particular to provide information, training and support to childcare services and to parents.

Office Hours

Monday to Thursday 9am – 5pm
Friday 9am – 4pm

Closed for lunch 1 -2pm daily

How to Find Us

Limerick Childcare Committee
Lower Ground Floor
Croom Mills
Croom
Co Limerick

061 600 918

Directions to Croom Mills