Parents Appeal Against Closure of Creche

dublin | rights, freedoms and repression | feature Friday November 17, 2006 01:13 by V. - The Coombe Hospital Crèche Parents & Children

The parents of children at the Coombe's creche are told of closure at short notice

On the 24th of April 2001 Uachtaráin na hÉireann Mary McAleese officially opened the Crèche in The Coombe Woman’s Hospital with much applause ribbons and publicity. However on the 24th of October 2006 the children, their parents and the employees of this Crèche were informed it is now to close with much disappointment, upset and disruption, on New Years Eve.

We the parents have been advised the closure is to facilitate the Hospital’s Expansion Programme, which we note will not include any further childcare facilities on its publicly funded and owned campus. The unacceptable and untimely short notice period of two months We, the parents have been advised is a result of a failure of the crèche operators Tots & Co to fully inform us of the expiry of their operating lease and their communications with the Hospital Administration on the matter. We, the parents formally request your support to help us secure an additional 4 months notice period; We are not against the improvement or the development of the Coombe Women’s Hospital; We are not in dispute with the owners and operators of this Crèche Tots & Co; We are just endeavouring to secure safe and secure childcare for our children with as little disruption and tears as possible.

For most of the 32 children in this crèche, they have known no other care outside of their homes; they have developed relationships, routines and have thrived in the love and care they have received from the staff. The children and their parents have come to rely on the safe and secure environment provided by the operators Tots & Co and their employees. Therefore We feel two months notice is inadequate and unfair. Our determination to ensure as little disruption and upset to our children as they are uprooted from their friends coupled with the shortage of available childcare places in Dublin’s South Inner City, has forced Us the parents to assemble and take immediate action.

We the parents are facing a number of difficulties with this unacceptably short notice period. We need to secure childcare, We need to prepare our children for what is probably their first major upheaval in life, and We still need to remember that Santa is now watching, especially while some of us need to find a further two months childcare fees by way of deposits by January 1st.

We the parents do not think it is unreasonable to request 6 months notice of this event, and We hope you agree. Thank you for reading our statement.