Dunshaughlin Community Childcare get top-up grant

Meath East TD Mary Wallace warmly welcomes the allocation of significant capital grants from Minister for Children Brendan Smith to Childcare facilities in her constituency under the National Childcare Investment Programme. The successful childcare providers include Lagore Road Community Childcare who received €1Million euro under this programme in 2007.

The allocations are as follows:

Karen Keane, Steeplechase Wood, Ratoath - €  45,000.00
Lagore Road Community Childcare, Lagore Road, Dunshaughlin - €200,000.00
Little Buddies, 18 Tudor Heights, Ashbourne - €  90,000.00

This funding is part of a national announcement totalling €39 million in capital grants under the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006 – 2010.

Mary Wallace said “This funding will allow these childcare providers to undertake much-needed capital projects such as building works or refurbishment of facilities. It will also allow for the purchase of new equipment”

Dunshaughlin Councillor Oliver Brooks warmly welcomes the news for Dunshaughlin Community Creche and thanks the three Ministers involved local Minister Mary Wallace, former Minister for Children Brian Lenihan who gave €1m towards the project and the present Minister for Children Brendan Smith who has provided the additional funding.

In December 2006, Councillor Brooks outlined that great concern was expressed that Dunshaughlin Community Childcare had not been in a position to utilise the funding allocated to them under the EU Childcare funding which was concluding on 31st December 2006.

The group had been allocated €1M in March 2006, but under the EU programme the funding had to be utilised by the end of 2006. The group approached both Childcare Minister at the time Brian Lenihan and local Minister Mary Wallace regarding their plight.

Cllr Brooks was delighted with the reinstatement of €1M to the Dunshaughlin Community Creche in April 2007 and “this weeks announcement of additional funds of €200,000 is the icing on the cake to allow this project to proceed” said Cllr Brooks.

Cllr Brooks said that it is her understanding that a comprehensive service will be on offer including a breakfast club from 8am to 9:30am. This will provide a much needed service for the area.

Cllr Brooks also expressed her appreciation to Meath County Council for the provision of the site to the Community Childcare group and stated “its now time to get the development up and running”

Minister Wallace concluded “I am delighted that childcare groups are continuing to use the funding available under the National Childcare Investment Programme which will assist parents to access affordable, quality facilities for their children close to home”

Ends

Additional notes

•    Children from 4 months to 14 years will be catered for and the centre will be open 51 weeks of the year to meet the needs of local people.
•    The centre will cater for a total of 70 children – 36 full-time and 34 part-time.

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