National Childcare Organisations
Seven national childcare organisations currently receive funding under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme to promote quality. These organisations are:
- Barnardos
- Childminding Ireland
- Forbairt Naíonraí Teo
- Irish Pre-school Playgroups Association (IPPA)
- Irish Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Association
- National Children’s Nursery Association
- St. Nicholas Montessori Society of Ireland
These organisations were in operation for a number of years before the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme and each has its own goals and strategies. It was decided to provide them with funding to allow them to expand their activities and membership.
Representatives of the national childcare organisations are also members of the National Childcare Coordinating Committee, chaired by the Office of the Minister for Children. This allows them to feed into national childcare policy and to coordinate the work of their own organisations accordingly.
