CHILDREN What the Government is doing to advance Childcare & support working families in Ireland Having been an advocate for and having worked and lectured in the pre-school area for many years, I continue to work with Minister Fitzgerald in ensuring we have the highest possible standard of childcare in the state. The following are some of the Childcare Improvement Measures taken by Minister Fitzgerald up to end of 2013: • €1.5m in 2014 to support staff training and upskilling allocated as part of budget 2014. • Pre-School Quality Agenda established putting in place much needed systems of support and regulation for pre-school services in Ireland with €4.5m allocation in Budget 2014 for quality measures. • Five additional inspectors being recruited by HSE in areas where gaps had been identified including Dublin South West. In addition to this current recruitment, €500,000 has been allocated in 2014 to further increase staffing levels to strengthen the national preschool inspection system. • An Additional €1.5m for implementation of the Area Based Childhood (ABC) programme, a joint initiative between the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Atlantic Philanthropies to improve outcomes for children in disadvantaged communities including in Tallaght CDI. • Child and Family Agency Act 2013 established the Child and Family Agency representing a key Programme for Government commitment and an essential response to recent reports on child protection failings, including inconsistency and fragmentation in service provision. The new agency was recently launched and brings together over 4,000 staff and a budget of around €609m.
Smaller More Local Playgrounds on the Way South Dublin County Council’s Playground Programme is now under review with a focus on the approach to playground provision in the county. Up to now, playground provision has been focussed on larger destination type playgrounds in the Council’s Regional Parks and specific Neighbourhood Parks while a network of small local playgrounds has been provided in association with Community Centres around the county. Given that the costs associated with these large proposals are prohibitive and that the facilities previously developed often lie some distance from local residents, a significant change to this approach is now under active consideration. Proposals for a network of smaller, more local playgrounds that ensure a broader distribution of facilities is being developed. I have been advocating such measures for some time as there are presently many areas in South Dublin that are not catered for. As the areas mentioned under are ‘proposed locations’ there will be a full consultation with local residents organized by the SDCC prior to any development. Templeogue/Tallaght area: Belgard Heights (2014), Avonbeg (2014), Killinarden Community Centre (2014), Kilnamanagh Parkhill Road (2015), Aylesbury (2015), Jobstown Oark (2015), Kiltipper Park (2015), McGee Park (2016), Sean Walsh Park, Marlfield (2016), Firhouse Park (2016), Kingswood Open Space (2016), Tymon Park Limekiln (2016), Glendown Park (2016), Old Bawn Park (2017), Mount Carmel (2017), Bancroft Park (2017), Greenhills (2017), Tymon Park Willington (2018), Orwell Park (2018), Perrystown (2018), Kilnamanagh Treepark Road (2018), Carrigwood (2018), Hunterswood (2018), Killinarden Park (2018), Dodder Park Road (2018). Rathfarnham Area: Whitechurch Open Space (2014), Marian Road (2014), Prospect Manor, Stocking Lane (2015), Westbourne Lodge (2015), Idrone, Knocklyon (2015), Delaford (2016), Boden Park (2016), Hunterswood (2017),Woodstown (2017), Longwood/ Stonepark Abbey (2017), Dargle Wood (2018), Elkwood (2018) and Cherryfield Park (2018).
Senator Keane and Minister Frances Fitzgerald pictured outside Leinster House recently
Outline drawing of the proposed Ballycragh playground
SENATOR CÁIT KEANE - WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF AT NATIONAL LEVEL