Crèche has to hire five extra staff or face closure due to regulation changes

By Maurice Garvey

THE Markiewicz Community Centre Crèche in Ballyfermot is facing closure due to a change in regulations, which means they must hire an additional five staff by September 1.

The main problem for the Decies Road crèche, is that they can’t afford to hire five additional staff in order to meet regulations from the Department of Youth Affairs and Children.

Markiewicz Community Centre Crèche has served the community for 18 years – and it currently cares for 30 children at one time and a further eight children after-school.

Up to eight staff could yet be affected if no resolution is brokered between the crèche and the department.

Teresa McGouran, CE Supervisor Markiewicz Community Centre Crèche, said: “We are in negotiations with the Dublin City Childcare Committee, and are working with them to try and resolve the situation.

“This is something that affects a lot of crèches. Unless we can get funding from the Minister’s [Katherine Zappone] office, we are not in a position as a Board to take on five new staff.”

The Markiewicz crèche currently has eight staff, but board members have had “no option but to put parents on notification.”

The regulations were initially meant to kick in last year, but were postponed until September 1, at a time when crèches sign contracts with the department.

Sinn Féin Councillor Daithí Doolan has urged the Minister to release funding to allow the crèche to continue its invaluable contribution to the community.

Cllr Doolan said: “This is shocking news. Parents are deeply disappointed at the prospect of the crèche closing. Markiewicz Crèche has provided an essential service for years. It cannot be allowed to close. This important facility allows parents to go back to education, take up employment and provides children with essential pre-school education.

“The new regulations make a farce of the government’s commitment to childcare. I have written to Minister Katherine Zappone asking her to release the funding needed to keep the crèche open.”

In the letter Doolan states Zappone has “always championed childcare and how essential it is for our communities to progress.”
He asked her release funding needed to keep the crèche open.