Ó Murchú writes to ministers over ongoing childcare issues in Dundalk

Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú says he has written to Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman and Disability Minister Anne Rabbitte, about childcare issues in Dundalk after Sinn Féin tabled a motion on the costs of childcare in Leinster House last week.

Deputy Ó Murchú raised issues that were revealed to him by the Muirhevnamor Community Youth Project, Lios na nÓg in Muirhevnamor and the after-school project based at The House, Cox’s Demesne.

In relation to the community youth project, the Dundalk TD said: “I asked for the information so I will provide it as it was provided to me: ‘The Afterschool operates its service from 1.15pm to 6.15pm in normal times.'Current numbers are 24, capacity is 27 but we can't increase due to staffing issues and there are currently 14 on a waiting list'.’’

He said the after-school service requires two part-time staff and currently relies on Community Employment schemes.

Deputy Ó Murchú continued: “Obviously, that is not perfect from the project's point of view or even that of those on CE, of which there is no uptake at the minute.

“The service states that ‘core funding restricts fee increases’, but the reality is that the cost-of-living crisis does too. Sometimes, for those who pay fees, this project would accept them being paid very slowly and not necessarily weekly or monthly.”

He said the two daily school collections from local schools at 1.15pm and 2.15pm is becoming inoperable as three or four members must be out at one time. “We need action on this”, he said.

Deputy Ó Murchú said Minister O’Gorman had visited The House, which is “in a better circumstance than most as they share the building with other projects, with admin and other costs shared.”

He said the capacity is 32, and the project is full, with a waiting list of 40. He said: “That is the reality of what this project could offer.”

The House also highlighted excessive paperwork and wondered if a service level agreement would not be a better way of accessing core funding.

Lios na nÓg told Deputy Ó Murchú there had been a “worrying increase of children with additional needs attending our service; ... a marked increase in physical, cognitive and behavioural issues along with diagnosed conditions.”

The service stated that the inclusion of all children and families is “coming with a serious impact to our staff as the needs of some children can predominate their time” and while the AIM programme is welcome they are “struggling with current allowances due to the increase in numbers of children accessing the programme”.

He said: “The services are capping numbers, they say, and the ratios will not work. This is probably a service that an awful lot of other crèches may not be offering.”

Deputy Ó Murchú wrote to Ministers O’Gorman and Rabbitte after the debate to highlight the specific issues the creches had raised with him.