Significant grant for Mayo childcare facility
"But urgent need for even greater investment in the county"
Minister Dara Calleary has confirmed €245,000 in funding for Glór na nÓg Childcare, Aghamore, under the Building Blocks Extension Grant Scheme.
He stated: “This allocation will allow for capital works to be undertaken at the facility, increasing capacity for families across the parish.
“Glór na nÓg is a fantastic community based childcare facility established in 2008.
"It is already providing an excellent resource in the area with Creche, ECCE/Preschool, Afterschool and Breakfast Club services being made available under the management of a very dedicated team.
"This new investment will allow that service to grow and expand to meet the changing needs of the community.
“I thank the management and staff team at Glór na nóg, my colleague Minister Norma Foley and Councillor John Caulfield for their work in delivering this crucial investment into east Mayo, “ he said.
Welcoming the news, Mayo Deputy Keira Keogh said: "The funding will support both community and private childcare providers to expand, purchase or build childcare premises, increasing the number of affordable, high-quality childcare places for children aged 1 to 3 years, a critical age for early development.
“Parents are crying out for accessible, reliable childcare and this is very welcome news for Glor na nÓg in Aghamore” said Deputy Keogh.
“However, we need to go further and have communities throughout Mayo benefit from funding like this in order to provide the support that children and families across the county need and deserve.
“As the chairperson of the Oireachtas Children & Equality Committee, a public representative and a behaviour consultant who has worked with children and families for years, I know how vital early intervention and early education are. There is an urgent need for greater investment in Mayo.
"I’m seeing parents from every part of the county on waiting lists and struggling to access childcare and this needs to be addressed.”