A Letterkenny-based childcare charity has had to turn away hundreds of families in need, due to a lack of space.
The demands for childcare are strongly felt at the Letterkenny Community Childcare CLG in Lisnenan, where there are 465 children on the waiting list.
More than 100 of those children are under 1 years of age, with parents wishing to return to work between now and September 2024.
Many families who access the service are low – no income and depend on childcare to get to work, education and training.
The lack of capacity is having a direct impact on local employment, says Eoin Gildea, charity chair.
“We cannot accommodate any more children, nor can any other provider in Letterkenny due to lack of capacity, resulting in families having to defer returning to work, at great cost to them and their employers,” he said.
“All the major international companies in the county are located close to our service, however, we do not have capacity to provide childcare for their employees.”
Eoin Gildea, chair of the Letterkenny Community Childcare Centre charity. Northwest Newspix
Emergency cases are also being turned away, Eoin said.
“We are the only full day Community Childcare Centre in the town the size of Letterkenny and the only childcare provider in the Ballyraine area. We work with Tusla on Child Protection cases, Surestart assisting families struggling with parenting and SVP for families in crisis,” he said.
“At present we have such small space that we have to turn away some of these cases.”
There are 180 children aged from 6 months to 12 years attending the centre daily, with 28 staff. The charity is a Centre of Excellence and holds the highest Síolta quality mark from the Department of Education.
Geraldine Burke, manager and Eoin Gildea, chair of Letterkenny Community Childcare CLG
After 40 years in operation, the time has come to move to a larger premises. A fundraising campaign has been launched to secure over €1.2M to get the project off the ground. The proposed new build is in the region of €2.8 million plus €350k for the site.
“Currently we rent facilities from Donegal County Enterprise Business Fund, one building since 2003, the second since 2012,” Eoin explains.
“While we have in the recent past, and currently making attempts as best we can, pressured the Government for funding a move/new premises, we are under no illusion that we will need some help from local fund raising as well as the private sector to make it happen.”
The charity has been selected as one of the beneficiaries of this year’s North West 10K alongside Kilmacrennan, Termon, Gartan, Churchill and Trentagh Community First Responders and Cara House. Over the next three months, the groups will be out in force fundraising together for their individual goals.
North West 10K Committee members with the 2024 charity representatives – Cara House, Kilmacrennan Termon Gartan Churchill Trentagh CFR and Letterkenny Community Childcare Centre
“The new proposed building will allow childcare capacity to increase. We have no doubt everyone is aware of the childcare shortage both locally (and nationally). Any additional spaces would have a potential to facilitate more workers’ journeys back to the workforce,” Eoin said.
“We hope you can understand that the project, an absolute necessity for the community, probably won’t happen without the help of people and businesses local to the facility.”
The 27th annual North West 10k was officially launched last week. Taking place on Bank Holiday Monday the 6th of May in Letterkenny, the event has raised a combined €932,000 for almost 40 local causes.
People are now being urged to get registered, get training and get the word out to support the Northwest 10k charities of 2024. Online entries are now being taken for May’s event by going to https://www.njuko.net/nw_10k_2024 where runners and walkers will find all the information required.
Sponsorship cards are available from committee members and the benefitting charities.
