Balbriggan group achieve affordable childcare goal
TANKERVILLE HOUSE FACILITY EXPECTED TO OPEN IN SEPTEMBER
The Balbriggan Community Childcare Committee
PLANS for the new Tankerville House community affordable childcare crèche are well underway, with people behind the project expecting the facility to open this September.
Three years ago, residents from the area decided to establish the Balbriggan Community Childcare Committee as a proactive response as they felt there was a need for community childcare in the rapidly expanding area of Fingal.
Balbriggan Childcare Committee and board of management are made up of chairperson Syl Greally, vice-chairperson Jean Fay-Brady, company secretary Rachel Holt, treasurer Lorna Kelso, committee and board of management secretary Nancy Mullen, board of management directors Lorraine Nulty and Mourad Ouchelouche and committee members Vilma Moceviciene and Grazina Stasiuniene.
In their research, they found that the Fingal County Development Board forecasted that the population will increase even further to 18,001 in 2011.
So in order to facilitate the growing population, the voluntary, community organisations began working in partnership to secure a community childcare premises. The group got backing from Co-operation Fingal and have worked diligently over the years to get funding to secure the premises. Funding for this project was obtained from An Pobal for € 1,008,000 and this allowed the committee to negotiate a price of the unique building that is Tankersville House.
So now that their goal is coming to light, the committee would like to thank Jacinta Cooke of Fingal County Childcare Committee, Helen Duffy and staff of Fingal Leader Partnership Lisa Tonge and Town Clerk Brian Murray for their guidance and assistance in securing this funding and premises.
They would also like to thank Luke Moriarty for providing a premises to hold their meetings. A spokesperson for the committee said: 'This venture is a good example of how different people of different nationalities can come together and have a common goal in a project for the people of Balbriggan.'
- Juley-Ann Collins
