Laois community childcare centre issues update following Tusla closure

There is relief in a Laois town this Monday for parents with the reopening of the town's largest childcare facility.

Sonas Community Childcare Centre in Mountmellick cares for 170 children daily from infant to afterschool, serving 136 families at its large centre in the MDA centre in Irishtown.

The Laois centre had to close unexpectedly last Thursday, along with many more across Ireland "until further notice". 

The problem was a paperwork issue in Tusla, the child welfare agency, which ordered Sonas and many others across Ireland to close as they were temporarily not registered.

Board member Patrick O'Toole confirmed the resolution to the paperwork issue to the Leinster Express / Laois Live in a statement issued on Sunday.

"We are pleased to announce that the issue with the registration of Sonas Childcare has been resolved. The facility will re-open for normal hours and full service tomorrow morning, Monday January 12.

"The board of management gratefully acknowledges the support of Tusla and Laois Childcare team in achieving this resolution.

"The Board thanks all parents and guardians of the children in our care for their patience and forbearance during this regretted disruption to our services, we look forward to welcoming them back in the morning.

"The board remains indebted to our management team and staff for their dedication and loyalty to Sonas," Sonas board said.

Sonas had said they were "doing everything humanly possible" to fix the issue quickly, in a full statement to the Leinster Express on Friday. 

Laois TD Sean Fleming had asked an advisor to Minister for Children Norma Foley about the issue on Saturday, who gave this response.

"I spoke to one of our senior officials there and efforts are underway in Tusla to expedite the registration for Sonas Mountmellick Community Childcare Ltd, which currently supports 136 families and 170 children. The hope is that the application will be approved so that the service is registered in time for Monday morning. This is not yet guaranteed but intensive work is ongoing."

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Tusla and the Department of Children were asked to give statements with none received ahead of the reopening of Sonas.