Community Childcare effort gets back in gear

A working group was formed last night to move onwards the work to provide a state of the art Community Childcare Facility for Kilcullen, writes Brian Byrne.

More than 40 people turned out to the public meeting called to discuss the loss of a €650,000 grant after difficulties in getting leases for a site on the Kilcullen Community Centre campus.

The directors of Kilcullen Community Childcare & Education Ltd gave a presentation on their work since 2006, when they evolved from an earlier working group set up in 2002. They were loudly applauded for their efforts when the presentation concluded.

Although they had previously indicated that they would attend, the directors of the Community Centre sent a letter to last night's meeting saying they wouldn't be there following 'legal advice'. In the letter they also indicated that they would be willing to meet with 'two representatives' from last night's meeting at a future date.

There was a wide ranging discussion on the matter before the decision to form a new working group. But answers to many of the questions asked were shelved for possible discussion at 'another forum'.

The meeting was facilitated by KCA, and chaired by Mairead Kavanagh. It also expressed support for the ongoing work of the original Naomh Bhride community childcare group, which will need a new premises 'within months'.

A fuller report will be published later.