Minister gives approval for childcare centre Leader funds

Centre gets Department green lightThe provision of €365,450 of Leader funding for the Kilcullen Community Childcare Centre has been approved by Environment Minister Phil Hogan, writes Brian Byrne.

The funding had been delayed following disagreement on qualifying criteria between the Department and the County Kildare Leader Partnership, whose Board approved the project earlier this year. The Minister says he has given his approval based on additional information provided to his Department.

Kildare South Fine Gael TD Martin Heydon has warmly welcomed the approval. He has been in constant contact with Minister Hogan for the last six weeks since the disagreement was first raised, to highlight the importance of the project.

"I am delighted that it has now been successfully resolved," he said. "Irrespective of how the problem arose, I fought to ensure that this funding was secured for the Community of Kilcullen. This facility has been two years in the planning thanks to the voluntary efforts of many hard working local people and will be a huge benefit to the town."

Political representatives had attended a public meeting in Kilcullen on the issue to hear the concerns raised by parents. Deputy Heydon subsequently hosted a play group in his Newbridge office in conjunction with the organising committee to highlight the issue further.

The project had early this year progressed to the tender stage on the anticipation of the Leader funding and a local construction company is ready to begin work. The Committee have raised over €30,000 in local fundraising to provide matching funds in the past two years as well as sourcing other elements from Kildare County Council and Clann Credo.

"I would like to compliment the hard working committee on their enormous effort in getting this project so far and past so many hurdles," says Deputy Heydon. "I look forward to seeing all of their hard work now come to fruition."

The Diary understands that the Childcare Centre Committee will issue an official response as soon as they receive the letter of offer from the County Kildare Leader Partnership, which may happen before the weekend. But at a local level, individual members, and mothers of young children, are thrilled.

The news has also been welcomed by Deputy Jack Wall of the Labour Party, who said it is a good outcome for the people of Kilcullen who have sought to bring this much needed project forward.

"All the Public Representatives for the area have supported this project and have made representations to the Department. I want to thank the committee of the Community Childcare and Education Centre for continuing to highlight the benefits that this project will bring to the population of Kilcullen, and assure them of my continued support as always.

"I look forward to a final and positive decision from the Kildare Leader Partnership, knowing the huge effort that their staff have put into this important project, and in the quickest possible time the delivery of this centre for Kilcullen."

Kildare South Fianna Fail TD Sean O Fearghaill also welcomed the move, noting that this decision has been made following the 'trojan work of the local action committee'. "I want to congratulate the committee on their very effective campaign and I look forward to an early positive decision from the board of the Kildare Leader Company to ensure the delivery of this vital project."