A North Clare-based community crèche has received a funding allocation of €66,114, from the Department of Health and Children.

The funds allocated to Lisdoonvarna Community Childcare Centre will be invested in an on-site Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) system, crèche equipment, outside seating areas, and two playgrounds for infants and children aged 4 and over

The centre is scheduled to open for business next month and will employ 10 full staff when at full capacity.

The facility forms part of the Lisdoonvarna Fáilte project, which also features a multi-purpose Pavilion Hall and the rejuvenation of a 30-acre parkland into a sports, amenity and recreation centre for North Clare.

The project will be complemented later next month with the scheduled opening of a children’s playground, as well as a community sports field and athletics sports track.

Crèche Manager, Patricia Darcy, said: "Once opened, the crèche will enable parents to return to work or education on a full or part time basis.

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"Parents can do these things knowing that their child/children are being cared for in a warm friendly environment with fully qualified staff looking after them."

Ms Darcy said plans were in place to officially rename the new crèche ahead of its scheduled opening in late September.

"We are going to run a competition in which we will invite local schoolchildren to devise an appropriate name for the crèche," she added.

Commenting on the funding announcement, Minister of State and North Clare TD, Tony Killeen, said: "The grant assistance will help the community crèche in meeting the capital cost of developing childcare facilities.

"The facility has been approved for funding based on a demonstrated childcare need in the wider North Clare area."

The TD praised the work of the Lisdoonvarna Fáilte Project in contributing to the rejuvenation of the town.

He said: "Were it not for the commitment of the Project team the funding allocation of €1.27m made a number of years ago by the then Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism, Síle De Valera would not have been secured.

"I was delighted to support the local committee, when delays in drawing down the funding almost resulted in a loss of this significant grant aid."

Minister Killeen said that the National Childcare Investment Programme 2006-10 was already delivering on its primary objective of upgrading childcare infrastructure across Clare.

"It is anticipated that the programme will create up to 50,000 new childcare places nationally, with the objective of assisting parents to access affordable, quality childcare," he added.

To date, the Department of Health and Children has allocated funds totalling €1,060,718 to the community crèche.

(PR/NS)