Mayo childcare services receive €326,926 boost

THE Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring has today confirmed that childcare services in Mayo are to receive €326,926 in extra funding.  

The financial boost comes at a key moment in Ireland's move to accessible affordable quality childcare. 

Minister Ring said: “I am delighted to announce that local childcare services will receive over €300,000 in extra funding. 

“The money will be used to provide more than new childcare places, maintenance and building work as well as outdoor play areas and is available for immediate draw-down by providers here in Mayo. 

The  approved  2017 Early Years Capital Funding will be made available to childcare  centres,  crèches  and other  Early  Years services under three strands: 

•Strand  1:  New Places  - €178,043 – four projects to be funded. 

•Strand 2:  Building improvements and maintenance - €66,757 – four projects to be funded. 

•Strand  3: Natural outdoor play area  - €81,927 – eighteen projects to be funded.  

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone, said €8.4 million in capital funding has been allocated through the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to 683 pre-school providers nationwide; an increase in €4,4 million on the amount announced for this programme in March 2017. 

She said: “This funding will benefit children, families and providers under our Early Years programmes, and will contribute to the development of an infrastructure that is ready to meet the radical new approach to subsidising childcare outlined in Budget 2017. 

“Since first entering government, Fine Gael has prioritised hard pressed working families; the people who bore the brunt of the economic recession. A major part of this has been to reduce the cost of childcare for working parents. 

“We introduced the free pre-school year, and subsequently extended it to a second year. It is estimated the extended scheme provides an average saving of €4,000 per child. 

“We also recently introduced paternity leave for the first time ever. Dads are now entitled to two weeks' paid leave. 

“From September an estimated 70,000 children nationwide will get extra supports. This will really benefit families in Mayo. 

“Families will benefit in two ways. First there is a universal support for all children aged 3 and under, then there are supports for those families who need it most. 

“The second targeted support is based on income and also for those parents who have had to turn down jobs, training and education because they cannot afford childcare. 

“I encourage parents in Mayo to take the time to study the increased supports which are available and prepare for the autumn, by checking out the new website www.affordablechildcare.ie or by talking to staff at your local childcare centre,†concluded Minister Ring. 

EARLY YEARS CAPITAL 2017 

Strand 1 

Marita Shannon €50,000

Young Meadow Limited T/A Little Treasures Creche €50,000

Catherine Sheridan €28,549

Tracey Keohane €49,494

Total: €178,043

 

Strand 2 

Aghamore Childcare Company Limited €19,499

Foxford Childcare Group Limited €16,185

Mayo Abbey Parish Community Development Company Limited €18,617

Tots 2 Teens (Tooreen) Limited €12,656

Total: €66,957

Strand 3  

K.P. Childcare Limited €4,230

Julia Stack €5,000

Young Meadow Limited €3,721

Caroline O'Connor Coleman €4,956

Mary Hunt €5,000

Carmel Reilly €4,888

Mairead Hastings €3,930

Karina McBride €4,370

Ballintubber Community Pre-school and Afterschool Service Limited €4,980

Eileen McNeela €4,999

Veronica McLoughlin €5,000

Deirdre McDonnell €4,476

Catherine Allen and Sarah Mortimer €3,370

Margaret Cresham €4,540

Mairead Hastings €4,353

Cathrina Concannon €4,183

Kathleen Keane €5,000

Bernadette Frazer €4,930

Total: €81,927

Overall total:  €326,926