Local day care centre reopens

A DAY care centre has reopened in the north inner city following a much-anticipated refurbishment project.

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Nial Ring, officially opened the Lourdes Day Care Centre in Sean McDermott Street.

The €500,000 revamp was funded under the Government’s Dublin’s North East Inner City Initiative (NEIC). 

Founded in 1979 by a group of local people, the Lourdes Day Care Centre was created to serve as a social centre, providing a place for older people to meet and enjoy a hot meal.  

Through hard work and fundraising, Dublin City Council agreed to build the centre to help cater for physical, psychological and social needs of the elderly in the parish.

Paddy Murdiff, chairman of the centre, said: “Forty years later, the Day Care Centre is embedded in the fabric of the local community and offers a home away from home for many older people and the most vulnerable in the community. 

“Combating social isolation, it is a place for people to come together, to have fun, laugh and communicate with other people.”

The centre was listed in the 2017 Mulvey Report ‘Dublin North East Inner City: Creating a Bright Future – The Social and Economic Regeneration of Dublin’s North East Inner City’ as a community project to “merit particular support and staffing/funding assistance in the initial years of the regeneration plan.”

The refurbishment involved internal alterations as well as a single storey extension to incorporate a new sitting room, wet room, locker room and general store. 

Further support funding was provided by Dublin City Council and the Health Service Executive (HSE) to upgrade the existing building and complete the fit out, with the total cost of the project amounting to €500,000.

There was minimal disruption to services at the centre for the duration of the construction works.

In addition to the construction project Lourdes Day Care Centre was also approved for three additional staff posts under the NEIC Social Employment Programme in 2018 and these are now in place.  

To date, this programme has approved 50 new posts for a range of community organisations in the north east inner city.

Speaking at the reopening, Lord Mayor Ring said: “This is a great day for Lourdes Day Care Centre and its users. It is vital that the government continues to support and invest in such fantastic community initiatives and I know that the Lourdes Day Care Centre, led by the wonderfully kind and caring Bernie Pierce, will continue to provide care, comfort and companionship to those who need it for many years to come.”

Bernie Pierce, Manager of the Lourdes Day Care Centre, said: “We have waited a long time for this refurbishment to materialise and are delighted to welcome back our members to the new and improved centre.

“The introduction of natural light to rooms and the bigger space will be of huge benefit to our members’ physical and mental well-being, and to the community at large.”

Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe, said: The refurbishment and extension of this community facility is testament to Government’s commitment to improving the quality of life for the people of Dublin’s North East Inner City.”

“To date almost €20 million has been specifically allocated for additional projects and programmes in this community since the launch of the North East Inner City Initiative.”