Disadvantaged parents not getting childcare cuts in reopened Athy creche

A significant amount of children have not been able to return to full-time care at a Athy creche which was closed by bailiffs last week.

Footsteps Creche located at DunBrinn reopened on Monday last after a sudden closure last week.  It is unclear how much money was owed to the Revenue Commissioners but estimates are about €35,000.

In the eleventh hour a Dublin businessman Aidan Corless, took over the creche at Dun Brinn enabling the majority of staff to return to employment. However, six staff are now unemployed, while there are 12 currently working at Dun Brinn.

The number of children attending the Dun Brinn creche has rapidly reduced.  90% of parents at the creche were in receipt of the Community Childcare Subvention Programme(CCS). This scheme supports disadvantaged parents and provides supports for those  in low-paid employment or who are attending education or training.

Speaking to KildareNow, Manager at Dun Brin, Elaine Collins McGuirk,  revealed that because the creche is now private, parents are not able to benefit from the CCS scheme. They are now left with no option but to pay full fees.

Children that were being sent to the creche on a full-time basis are now only there one or two days a week. It is hoped that under the new budget, parents will be able to access the benefits of the CCS plan from this January.

Meanwhile a breakfast and homework club at Dun Brinn has still not reopened.

Separately local accountant Christine Bowden has taken over the running of the creche at Coneyboro.