Roscommon to receive €59,000 in further childcare grants. “Funding targeted at services for school-going children”

In Education, Families, Local Issues, News, Young People by Denis Naughten

Denis Naughten, Minister for Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment with Katherine Zappone, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Denis Naughten, Minister for Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment with Katherine Zappone, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

Four Roscommon childcare services are to receive €59,000 to provide extra places for children of school going age, according to Local Minister Denis Naughten.

Minister Naughten says it will prepare services for significant changes in childcare starting with extra supports for families in September.

A new phase of an awareness campaign has also been launched to inform parents in Roscommon about the new supports available for their children.

Minister Naughten added:

“My independent colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone, has listened to the concerns of parents and childcare providers in Roscommon and is responding. She is now confirming another round of funding for local centres so they can improve their ability to respond to the needs of families with children of school-going age.”

Four services in Roscommon that will benefit:

·        Kilnashee Childcare €20,000
·        Lisacul Childcare €19,475
·        Frenchpark Childcare €9,557
·        Right Start Montessori Kiltoom €9,991

“I am working closely with Minister Zappone to ensure that parents and providers are given every possible support as we transform our childcare system from being one of the most expensive in the world into one of the best and most affordable,” added Naughten.

The first big step will start for families in four-weeks time when an extra €19m in supports become available.

There are two forms of support: A universal support for all children aged 6-months to 3-years. That subsidy will be up to €1,040 per year – effectively six weeks of free childcare.

We are also going to support those families who need it most. Targeted childcare subsidies for lower income families are increasing, some by as much as 50%, offering up to €145 per week or €7,500 per year.

Minister Zappone is clear that this is just the beginning and there are many other challenges which must be met if we are to have genuine accessible affordable quality childcare. I will be supporting her efforts to secure further investment in the upcoming budget.

I encourage parents across Roscommon to visit www.affordablechildcare.ie to see the new supports which are coming,” concluded Minister Naughten.

Ends