Cautious welcome to after school care plan
- Published: 23 June 2005
TEACHERS and parents have given a guarded welcome to a plan backed by Justice Minister Michael McDowell to develop school-based childcare.
The minister said funding is already available in every county in Ireland to develop such facilities.
Mr McDowell also announced yesterday funding of €45 million to create almost 4,000 new childcare places for community based projects.
He said it would be better for communities to develop after-school facilities themselves with his backing rather than the Government attempting to develop them on a national basis.
The National Parents Council Primary (NPCP) is concerned, however, that parents who are out at work all day and who may well be commuting long distances may be expected to get involved in setting up 'not for profit organisations'.
The NPCP said other ways of providing after school care facilities should be explored before any decisions are taken.
Launching a departmental working group report on developing school age childcare, Mr McDowell said children aged between 8 and 15 were not being catered for under current childcare programmes.
Labour's spokesperson on Children, Senator Kathleen O'Meara said yesterday's announcement by the minister was another indication of the Government's piecemeal approach to childcare.
She said what appeared to be a large amount of money would go nowhere towards reducing the high cost of childcare to thousands of parents around the country.
General secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), John Carr, questioned whether schools would be ready or able to provide after-school facilities. Many were in need of urgent renovation and upgrade and lacked basic facilities.
The report by a working group of the National Childcare Coordinating Committee, proposes using school-based facilities for the provision of after-school care by either converting suitable spare space in existing premises or using quality pre-fabricated buildings located on school grounds.
The report stresses that grant support would only be provided in cases where land or space is available over a reasonably long time frame.
It also emphasises that the service should not be managed by either the school principal or board of management but by a committee supported by the school authorities.
Parent Anne Smyth who is co-director of the Stay and Play After School in Scoil Cathriona in Renmore, Co Galway, pointed out that State funding had been provided for the three after school carers who between them looked after 50 children.
The service was established in September 2003 and much of its success is due to the active participation of parents in planning and developing the service.
