Childcare

Childcare is a necessity for ensuring equal access to education, employment or training but for many it is simply too expensive and inaccessible. Co-operation Fingal have been working in partnership with community and statutory bodies, to increase the supply of affordable childcare places in the area.

Community childcare schemes: These schemes give local people the opportunity to set up and manage a childcare service for members of their community. Co-operation Fingal, in conjunction with the Fingal County Childcare Committee, works with members of the local community to form and train committees to apply for funding and manage a community childcare service. The childcare places themselves are prioritised for local people to enable them participate in education, training or employment. The benefit of this type of scheme is that it is the people from the area themselves who manage the service and decide which direction it will go. Funding for this type of project is provided from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform's childcare provision schemes (EOCP, NCIP). If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Helen on 01 802 0412

Lá go Bhrí Community Childcare, Mourne Estate, Skerries: After much hard work and determination by the voluntary management committee, Lá go Bhrí Community Childcare Service is now operating in Mourne View Community. Centre, Skerries. The service, which began in February 2006, currently supplies 12 affordable pre-school places in the morning and an after-school session in the afternoon. There are three staff members, one full time and two part-time all qualified and trained to the highest standard. Funding for this scheme has been secured through the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme 2000-2006 (currently the National Childcare Investment Programme). There are still spaces in the afternoon session. Please call Joann or Jackie on 01 849 5270 to make an enquiry or get more information

Balbriggan Community childcare: A group of people in the Balbriggan area have been meeting regularly in recent months with a view to moving forward the Balbriggan Community childcare project. Currently, there is no community childcare in Balbriggan. An application has now been submitted to establish a full time service, catering for children of all ages, in both sessional and full time care. The outcome of this application may not be known until early 2008.