A total of €70,000 has been announced to improve childcare services for children of school going age and make life easier for parents and families.
The first two strands of this funding announced will help create over 5,000 extra childcare places in 225 school age childcare services nationwide.
The extra spaces will further increase capacity ahead of new childcare supports which will benefit up to 70,000 children across the country from September.
Minister McHugh said this funding is one or a raft of new measures to make thing easier for parents here with funding to groups in Letterkenny, Greencastle, Killygordon, Glenties
“We are determined to reach out to parents and inform them of the supports that will be available to them from this September,” said Minister McHugh.
“The funding announced for School Aged Childcare services, totalling €70,000 here in Donegal will be used for the establishment of new SAC services as well as the expansion of existing services.
McHugh said the following local childcare services have received funding under the scheme:
Provision of new services to create new places:
Letterkenny Community Development Project Learn N Play – €5,161
Little Acorns Montessori Buncrana & Carndonagh- €14,984
Aurora’s Hobbits Killygordon- €20,000
Expansion of existing services to create new places:
Errigal Montessori & Creche, Letterkenny – €10,000
Greencastle Community Childcare – €9,985
Glenties Community Playgroup Limited – €9,8181
“As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone has said, this is the first big step, but there is still much work to done in this area. I am assured that the Minister is focused on quality of childcare, accessibility and also recognition for the workers who provide services.
“I strongly encourage all parents everyone with children in childcare to visit – affordablechildcare.ie – to see the supports available to their family.”
Cllr Terence Slowey said the funding was just the latest round of allocations for Donegal families.
“With hundreds of extra child care places for pre-school children available from next month and now this funding for groups across the county, it shows once again this Government’s commitment to parents and families,” said Cllr Slowey.
“I am particulary pleased for Glenties Community Playgroup who have an outstanding reputation and deliver superb services for children in the town and surrounding areas.”
Speaking at the launch of the new funding, An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar said: “In a Republic of Opportunity everyone should have the chance to access employment and education. Childcare can often be a barrier to this, whereas it should be a bridge to opportunity for parents, their children and our economy.
“These new subsidies will create greater parental choice and financial support for families so they can achieve their full potential. I’m delighted that investment made this year will help families begin to feel a difference in their pockets from September.”
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