• About Us
  • Introduction
  • DCYA Strategy
  • Contact us
  • State Board Vacancies
• Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
• Childcare
  • What we do
  • Free Pre-School year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme
  • Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Programme
  • Childcare Education and Training Support Programme (CETS)
  • City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs)
  • Childcare Regulations
  • Childminders
  • National Childcare Organisations
  • Childcare Initiatives
• Child and Family Agency
• Child and Youth Participation
  • What we do
  • Comhairle na nÓg
  • Dáil na nÓg
  • National Consultations
  • Children and Young People's Participation Support Team
  • Other Participation Initiatives
  • Research and Policy
  • International Developments
• Child Welfare and Protection
  • What We Do
  • All Island Conference 2013
  • FAQ
• Children First - Child Protection Guidance
• Adoption
• Irish Youth Justice Service
• Youth Affairs
  • What We Do
  • What is Youth Work?
  • Quality Standards Initiatives
  • Policies and Legislation
  • Funding Programmes, Initiatives & Location of Projects
  • Youth Exchange / Transnational Programmes
  • Gaisce - The President's Award Scheme
• Play and Recreation
• Prevention and Early Intervention Initiatives
  • Child Poverty Initiative
  • Child Poverty Initiative Seminar
• Policy and Strategy Development
  • The Children and Young People's Policy Framework
  • National Children's Strategy 2000 – 2010
  • Prevention and Early Intervention Programme
  • National Children's Advisory Council
  • Working Together for Children - Children Services Committees
• Legislation
• International Framework
• Research
  • What we do
  • Children's Funded Research Programme
  • National Set of Child Well Being Indicators
  • Measuring Child Well Being
  • State of the Nation's Children Report
  • Research Placement Programme
  • Research Scholarship Programme
  • Research Briefing Notes
  • FAQ
• Growing Up in Ireland
• National Research and Data Strategy
  • Background to the Strategy
  • Action Plan Updates
  • Inventory of Data Sources
• Children's Database
• Early Years Education Policy Unit
• Funding Opportunities

What we do

The Childcare Directorate of the Office of the Minister for Children has responsibility for implementing the National Childcare Strategy 2006 - 2010.  The strategy aims to further develop the childcare infrastructure to meet the needs of children and their parents for quality early childhood care. Download the strategy here: 

• National Childcare Strategy 2006-2010 - A Guide for Providers
• National Childcare Strategy 2006-2010 - A Guide for Providers (Irish)
• National Childcare Strategy 2006-2010 - A Guide for Parents
• National Childcare Strategy 2006-2010 - A Guide for Parents (Irish)

The Childcare Directorate manages the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000 – 2006 and the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 – 2010 in conjunction with Pobal.

You can contact the Childcare Directorate at (01) 635 4000
or e-mail: childcare@dcya.gov.ie