Meeting proposed to revive Childcare project

A meeting of all groups and individuals interested in the progressing of the Community Childcare Centre project is being initiated by Kilcullen Community Action, writes Brian Byrne.

This follows the loss of funding for the project at the end of 2010 because of failure to secure a lease on the property which had been earmarked at the Kilcullen Community Centre campus for the new premises.

The Naomh Bride Community Playgroup is currently operating on the site in a pre-fab building.

At KCA's first meeting of 2011 last night, Orla O'Neill said the matter was an issue for the whole community, and she proposed that KCA support a public meeting which would explore what can be done to revive the project.

She said that even though the original funds were now lost, community childcare is an area which will continue to get investment from Government, because it was clear from the experience of the 1980s that the provision of affordable childcare was a key element in the country 'getting back on its feet'.

The meeting heard that with people now having to take lower paid jobs, the matter of affordable childcare was even more critical.

JJ Warren said it is important that the issues which led to the recent loss of funding be dealt with so that a similar situation won't happen again.

Noel Clare suggested the formation of a working group of representatives from all interested parties. These could include the Naomh Bride Community Playgroup; Kilcullen Community Childcare & Education Ltd, which had won the project the original grant aid; Kilcullen Community Centre Ltd; and Kilcullen Carers &  Toddlers Group.

Orla O'Neill said KCA is well-placed to facilitate this, as it had when the Community Playground project had stalled.

"We held a public meeting then at which all involved, including the county councillors, had to make their case," she said. "That effectively gave the Playground project a mandate to move on with full public support."

Last night's meeting agreed that interested parties should be invited to form a working group, with a view to organising a public meeting at which all issues and possibilities might be clarified.