COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, December 12, 2022

MOTION NO. 1

MOTION: Councillor Joanna Tuffy

To ask the Chief Executive to undertake an examination of the extent to which the Council is currently involved in supporting childcare within the South Dublin County Council area, with a view to seeing if this support can be enhanced. This would include an audit of childcare services in its own properties, including Council owned community, youth and leisure centres. (Details of a similar examination being carried out by another local authority is attached)

REPORT:

The Council's Community Department has recently surveyed all community centres to assess the nature of use of such facilities including details of childcare facilities on site. With the pending recruitment of additional numbers of new Community Officers to fill existing vacancies and support a proposed restructuring following an in-depth external review of our community development services, resources will be on hand to fully explore the extent of childcare use in the context of overall community supports provided in these centres.  We have also begun engagement with the South Dublin County Childcare Committee and, noting the details provided with the Motion in relation to another local authority's proposed research on this topic, we will also engage with that local authority to ensure a coherent understanding of the various issues and challenges for the sector both in the County and generally which will inform the potential extent or otherwise of possible local authority support required.

Therefore, while reiterating to the Elected Members that childcare supports are not a statutory responsibility of the Council and no specific budget allocations are currently provided in our annual budget in this regard so any changes in the Council’s  approach would need to be underpinned by an appropriate funding stream, it is proposed to present a report to a future meeting of the Social, Community and Equality Strategic Policy Committee covering the various aspects outlined above and to inform any potential next steps.