DONEGAL’S Government Minister Joe McHugh has announced another €24,000 in funding to childcare facilities here in the county.
The Strand C funding stream will benefit seven organisations in Donegal and comes after more than €70,000 was allocated to groups in the county earlier this month.
The Donegal funding represents 8% of the overall national allocation.
“Funding of more than €24,000 has been made available by Government today help improve the quality of school age childcare in Donegal, bringing the total in recent weeks to more €95,000,” said Minister McHugh
“This funding today will benefit seven projects in Donegal including providers in Letterkenny, Drumkeen, Dungloe, Moville, Burnfoot, Ballyshannon and Bundoran.
“This is part of a nationwide allocation of €1.2 million from the School Age Childcare Capital Scheme from the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. Katherine Zappone today.
“This funding builds on the recent allocation of more than €70,000 in funding to help new and existing services to increase the number of childcare places that they provide here in Donegal. In total Donegal is receiving €95,000 in funding this summer alone to increase capacity and improve the quality of childcare services.
“Improving the quality of existing school age childcare services was one of the key actions of the Action Plan on School Age Childcare, published in March. Examples of how we do this given by Minister Zappone include the provision of age appropriate play equipment to stimulate children mentally and physically. The idea of this is to try to replicate the home environment for children where they need to avail of childcare afterschool.”
Minister McHugh said: “Fine Gael is also delivering on its election commitment to help ease the financial cost of childcare for hard-pressed working families. New childcare supports coming on stream this September will benefit up to 70,000 children.
“A new universal childcare subsidy, of up to €1,040 per year, is available for children aged from 6 months up to starting their free pre-school year (ECCE Scheme) at 36 months.
“In addition to this universal payment, there will also be further childcare supports for families who need them most. Families on lower incomes, who qualify by way of a means test, will be eligible for supports worth up to €7,500 per year for children aged 6 months to 15 years of age.
“The aim is to ensure that parents previously prevented from taking up jobs, training or education because of the cost of childcare, will now be able to do so.
“Fine Gael is building a Republic of Opportunity, ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to reach their full potential. Access to employment and education is a big part of this. Yet childcare can often be a barrier, where it should be a bridge to opportunity for parents, their children and our economy.
“That’s why it’s so important we continue to invest in childcare here in Donegal in order to increase capacity, improve quality and help ease the cost for parents.
“I strongly encourage all parents to visit – affordablechildcare.ie – to see the supports available to their family here in Donegal.”
Cllr Terence Slowey added: “I am grateful to Minister Zappone and Minister McHugh for delivering on provision of more places and improved facilities across Donegal and I am particularly pleased for the service provider Spraoi le Chéile on the Carnmore Road in Dungloe and I was delighted to tell them of this funding today.”
The groups being funded today are:
Shining Stars Montessori, Mountain Top, Letterkenny – €5,000
The afterschool club at St Patrick’s National School, Drumkeen – €5,000
Spraoi Le Chéile, Dungloe – €3,799
Little Stars Pre-School, Moville – €5,000
Nursery Lane Pre-school, Burnfoot – €5,000
Saimer Community Childcare, Ballyshannon – €1,993
BASIC childcare centre, Bundoran – €4,792
