This article is from page 24 of the 2007-03-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 24 JPG
TWO childcare groups in Clare are celebrating this week, after being successful in their applications for funding.
The Department of Health and Children announced that the Inis- cealtra Preschool in Mountshannon and Bridget’s Garden Group in Tua- mgraney are to be given €1,000,000 and €600,000 respectively.
The Mountshannon facility cur- rently provides care facilities for up to 45 children from a pre-fab on the national school grounds.
The creche is run under the aus- pices of the Mountshannon Com- munity Council and chairman, Paul Bugler, said the cash will be a mas-
sive boost.
“This will allow us to move ahead with plans to expand the facility and to hopefully have purpose built ac- commodation. There is a real need in this area for childcare, both in terms of affordability and availability,” said Paul.
“For some parents who work in Limerick or Shannon it can mean hav- ing to shift children out at 6.30am. A lot of grandparents are stepping in to fill the breach and some of them are feeling the pressure. We need locally available pre-school and afterschool or Kone
The money will allow the facility, which has been in the very capable hands of Veronica Bleach for almost four years, to expand the hours dur-
ing which care can be provided, as well as provide better facilities.
Currently, the childcare facil- ity caters for up to 45 children for a number of hours each day but the new building will allow the service expand to include after school care up to national school age.
Meanwhile, the Bridget’s Garden community childcare facility is also planning to spend it’s €600,000 al- location on accommodation.
The group has been in existence for seven years, catered for more than 80 children in that time and has had to move four times in that period.
They cater for babies from six months old to children of four.
The facility is currently operating in Bodyke but it is hoped that now a
permanent home can be secured for Bridgets Garden.
Co-Founder of the facility, Lina Pelaez said that everyone involved was “delighted” to hear the grant was approved.
“It is very emotional to have the work that is being done recognised. We had such great help with the ap- plication from the Ennis Childcare Committee and the work done by parents has been amazing. There was such a lot of work involved in making the application and parents are not professional form-fillers but they really worked at it.”