Talks begin to avert creche closure

TALKS will commence this week to discuss the future of a Northside childcare facility threatened with closure.

As reported in Northside People last week, Darndale Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service may have to close down due to an issue with funding.

The centre will start talks with two of its main funders – Pobal and Tusla – with the assistance of the Dublin City Childcare Committee.

“Pobal and Dublin City Childcare Committee will be visiting the centre on Monday (May 26) to discuss various alternatives to closure with us,

? said a spokesperson for the centre.

“We will meet with the full group again on Wednesday (May 28).

Tusla have pre-paid an additional two months’ funding to the centre, allowing it the opportunity to work around finding alternative solutions.

However, no additional funding has been secured which means it still faces the threat of closure in the long-term.

The spokesperson said that over the past five years, while the centre experienced various cuts from Government sources, it managed to combat these with a variety of cost saving measures including fee increases, staff pay cuts and contract changes, and fundraising drives.

In total, over

?¬250,000 has been raised from these initiatives and a further

?¬112,000 in fundraising.

“However, there is a limit to how many of these measures can be put in place without risking the mission and ethos of the centre,

? the spokesperson stated.

“To increase fees means putting already low income families under additional strain; to close rooms or reduce hours means parents in employment or full day training will struggle and the centre will be in breach of regulations from some of the funders; and to rely on fundraising is to be unrealistic.

?

The spokesperson believes the centre is a very cost effective model for the Early Years and offers high quality childcare at an affordable price.

“We realise that other community childcare providers are struggling too which begs the question as to whether there is a serious flaw in the funding from Government, and if this is something that should be looked at with urgency before more services close or face closure,

? the spokesperson said.

“Maybe the time for cost saving measures is over and instead adequate funding should be top priority.

?

Meanwhile, parents and staff are still concerned that no resolution has yet been found.

“This is not just a crèche,

? said the spokesperson.

“It is their child’s safe place, a place where they make friends and learn with the support of qualified early years professionals; it is a place that offers them the opportunity to train, to seek employment or to get support around parenting and their child’s early years development; it is a vital link in the community and feeds into the local DEIS schools; it is most definitely a place worth fighting for.

?

The spokesperson added:

“Parents and the community continue to support us through our facebook page and by completing petitions and writing letters to the minister and Government officials.

?

Over 260 children attend the centre daily, most under the age of five. It employs 55 core staff and 44 Community Employment, Jobs Initiative and TUS employees.

Meanwhile, a

‘car window’ campaign took place during voting for the local and European elections last Friday (May 23), with staff and parents parking their cars outside the local polling station with posters attached to their windows asking for support.