Fresh funding gives Tallaght centre a new lease of life

A BUILDING that serves as an important hub to the community of Tallaght has been given a new lease of life thanks to fresh investment.

Minister James Reilly was on the Southside recently when he re-launched the Brookview Childcare and Community Service.

The building has been re-roofed and insulated, new doors and windows have been installed and it is now an inviting and warm place for the more than 30 local families that are using the services every day.

Brookview Childcare and Community Service provides pre-school and afterschool services to children in west Tallaght.

It has been upgraded using funding from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs through the Early Years Capital Programme 2014.

NABCO, Ireland’s co-operative housing provider, offers quality childcare facilities to communities in Tallaght, Lucan and East Wall in Dublin.

Children, parents and staff are treated as equal partners in developing the service and engagement with the surrounding community is seen as crucial in supporting children and families to reach their full potential.

Co-operative childcare services are staffed by over 20 qualified employees, Tús participants and volunteers from the community.

Funding is provided under the ECCE, CCS and TECS Schemes and through parental contributions

In Brookview, childcare places are available for pre-school aged children, and an afterschool programme is offered for children aged from 5-12 years.

The service also benefits from a parent-carer facilitator who supports parents to become more closely involved in their children’s education. Staff meet regularly with families to discuss the progress of their child or children and work together on planning for them. They also offer parents support and provide them with a room equipped with an information library with childcare and related books and leaflets, the use of internet and telephone access if required, and tea and coffee.

Since its foundation in 1973 NABCO has supported the provision of approximately 5,000 homes across a mix of tenures. It is also involved in the ongoing management of nearly 1,800 homes and promoted co-operative societies and the development of locally affiliated co-operative societies across Ireland.