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Five
year plan for Ballymun children
A
FIVE year childcare plan for Ballymun was launched by
Minister of State, Brian Lenihan, at Axis last week.
Two pre-schoolers, Sean Mooney and Ellen Doohan, presented
Minister Lenihan, who has special responsibility for
childcare, with a copy of the Ballymun Childcare Action
Plan while 250 children looked on.
The BCAP is designed to tackle the needs of children,
their parents and childcare services in the area over
five years. It also aims to encourage links with state
agencies such as Dublin City Council, the Northern Area
Health Board and the Local Drugs Task Force, and to
build supports for the greater development of the child
and family.
Steps are set out in the plan to achieve adequate childcare
provision and provide a number of other family support
initiatives.
The plan has been drawn up thanks to the Ballymun Partnership
and the Ballymun Childcare Task Force, which was set
up following a study of childcare needs and availability
in the area.
A total of 1,347 children are now in pre-school and
after-school services in Ballymun but it is estimated
that up to 1,800 places will be required.
Declan Dunne, chief executive officer of Ballymun Partnership,
said the upsurge in the numbers of Ballymun people taking
up training and employment between the period 1998 and
2002 was a contributing factor to the rising number
of childcare places required.
"Also,
the regeneration programme itself brings with it an
estimated 700 new homes on top of the ones that already
exist and new families means more numbers of children
requiring childcare services," said Mr Dunne. "Childhood
development is the key to educational prospects and
quality of life."
"Ballymun
Partnership has set both childcare and education as
priorities in going forward with the next phase of its
own Action Plan, 2001 to 2006."Chairperson of the
Childcare Task Force, Noirin Hayes, said that at the
centre of their work on the plan was a respect for the
rights and needs of young children and their families.
"The
sentiment of Graham Greene's quote on the front cover
of our plan is a living one for us," Ms Hayes said.
"It states that there is always a moment in childhood
when the door opens and lets the future in. "I
believe this plan opens up a better future for the children
and families in Ballymun."
A celebration of the launch followed with a magic and
puppet show to entertain the Minister and guests.
Minister
of State, Brian Lenihan, is pictured with Sean Mooney
and Ellen Doohan at the launch of the Ballymun Childcare
Action Plan at Axis last week
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