Our Staff

Kerry County Childcare Committee has the following staff structure:

Aileen Kelleher,  Manager

Aileen Kelleher is the Manager of Kerry County Childcare committee and has been with the company since 2018. She has overall responsibility for the work of the company. Aileen’s primary role is to develop and drive through the strategic goals of the company.

Email: aileen@kerrycountychildcare.com

Pamela Curran, Administrator / Project Administration Support Worker

Pamela has responsibility for financial duties to ensure organisational effectiveness, efficiency and funding compliance. She is also responsible for the preparation of budgets and financial management and supports community providers to meet their Pobal financial reporting requirements.  Pamela also provides information and support in relation to the funding programmes.

Email: pamela@kerrycountychildcare.com


Catherine Callaghan, Quality Officer

The role of Quality Officer is primarily to promote equal access, participation and outcomes for all children irrespective of their background, gender, race, special needs or being a member of the Traveller community. To promote inclusive quality childcare provision.

Catherine provides support, information and training on quality initiatives.

She is a Siolta mentor and delivers training related to the National Siolta Aistear Initiative.

She provides information and support to both existing and potential Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services in relation to:

  • Tusla’s Quality and Regulatory Framework
  • DES EYEI Framework for ELC services
  • DCEDIY Universal Design Guidelines
  • Setting up/expanding ELC/SAC services

Catherine is a Tusla registered Always Children First Trainer and delivers Foundation level training to the childcare sector and can provide support with the development of Child Safeguarding Statements

She provides information and support on the following:

  • Tusla registration and Change in Circumstances process for ELC and SAC services
  • Pre inspection supports
  • Assistance to ELC services engaging with the CAPA process
  • Post Tusla/DES inspection supports including liaison with Better Start where required.
  • Complaint management and registration conditions

Catherine also facilitates provider networks and communities of practice

Email: catherine@kerrycountychildcare.com


Kathryn O’Donnell, Support & Development Officer

Kathryn’s role encompasses a wide range of supports for existing and prospective childcare providers underpinned by best practice.  Both self-employed & community providers can avail of the following supports:

Develop and Build Capacity:  Good governance, staff management interactions, decision making & effective communication, problem solving, conflict resolution and team building.

Staff & Management Interactions:  Staff Support & Supervision, Performance Management, and Motivation for Staff Teams, Leadership and Management

Recruitment & Selection:  Supports to Services for Recruitment and Selection of Staff include, drafting of the job description/person specification, application form, advertising the position, Shortlisting of candidates for interview, Interviews & selection, Record management, and Induction.

Developing, Implementing and Reviewing policies and procedures

Facilitating the development of a Code of Behaviour for Staff Teams

Information Sharing, Support & Facilitating local and county wide networking

Training: Trainer in Always Children First Foundation & Refresher Level; Trainer in Diversity, Equality & Inclusion

E-mail: kathryn@kerrycountychildcare.com


Amy Pryal, Childminding Development Officer

Amy’s role is to support the development of the Childminiding Sector and to implement the actions in the National Action Plan for Childminding (2021 – 2028).

Amy is also responsible for:

  • Working with current and potential childminders and supporting them in the delivery of high quality early learning and care and/or school age care to children, families and communities.
  • Delivering information and training events to Childminders.
  • Rolling out supports for Childminders including Childminder Learner Fund, First Aid Training and Childminder Development Grants.
  • Supporting Childminders with the TUSLA registration process.

Contact: Amy@kerrycountychildcare.com

Email: amy@kerrycountychildcare.com


Rachel O’ Mahony,  Development Officer

Rachel’s role is to provide a  wide range of supports for existing and prospective childcare providers and to provide information and advice to parents and members of the public as required.

Rachel  is also responsible for:

  • Supporting services with the delivery and administration all Government funding schemes, including ECCE, NCS and Core Funding programmes.
  • Provision of HIVE support to Providers.
  • Provision of  support, advice and information on sustainability funding streams and to support services through the sustainability process.

Email: rachel@kerrycountychildcare.com


Eilish Anne Woods, Administrator / Receptionist

Eilish’s role is to provide administrative support to the team and to act as the first point of contact for Parents, Early Years Professionals and other key stakeholders.

She is also responsible for updating the website and managing social media platforms.

Email: eilish@kerrycountychildcare.com