‘Huge relief' to Limerick parents as crèche gets €750k in funding for exciting expansion
The funding for Banogue Community Crèche has been allocated through the Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare, which is managed by the Department of Children to help provide thousands of additional affordable childcare places across the country.
The staff are hoping for a new building which will allow the crèche to expand its services and relieve long-standing pressure on their growing waiting lists while also supporting working families across a wide area.
Speaking about the impact of the funding with the Irish Independent, Assistant Manager Niamh Power said the development will benefit not only Banogue but also surrounding communities.
'We offer places to families not just from Banogue, but from Charleville, Kilmallock, Bruree, and even Bruff,' she said.
'A lot of parents drop their kids off here on their way to work. This funding will make a big difference, especially for those who've been on our waiting lists. It's a big help to everyone in the community,' she said.
The crèche currently employs 25 staff, including early years educators, administrators, and kitchen staff. It offers care from infancy to school-age, including an after-school programme and full meal provision for every child.
The centre has seen rising demand in recent years, a trend Niamh attributes partly to growth in the nearby national school. 'As the school across the road has grown, the demand for childcare has grown alongside it. We've really seen the need for expansion,' she added.
The new funding will allow the crèche to expand capacity, improve facilities, and continue offering early education and care from 7:30am to 6pm daily.
'It's all very exciting,' said Niamh, who has worked at the crèche for the past three years. 'The children, staff, and families will all benefit. It's a huge relief to local parents who want reliable, nearby care without having to travel far.'
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