Relief for families as creche remains open
Marguerite Kiely
There has been widespread relief at the news the Before 5 Family Centre in Churchfield will remain open.
The preschool, which has been in business for 5 decades, announced its sudden closure recently, when it notified its 14 employees and parents that it would be shutting down immediately. The facility has spaces for up to 100 children and has been in business for five decades.
However, concern remains over the positions of the staff and whether they will retain their jobs.
The centre will reopen under new management in the coming weeks, after discussions with several potential providers. Over 250 people attended a demonstration last week to protest the sudden closure of the creche, which left dozens of families without childcare. The new provider will be Northside Community Enterprises, which also operates Little Hands creche based in Farranferris.
A spokesperson for Northside Community Enterprises said that they are “delighted” to be providing childcare services to Churchfield.
In a statement provided to the Cork Independent, they said: “We are in the process of taking all necessary steps to be compliant with Tusla regulations and be in a position to welcome children and families into the service.
“This will take several weeks but we have support from all key stakeholders to ensure this is completed as quickly as possible.
“As we prepare to open this new service, we would encourage all parents and guardians to register their interest with Cork City Childcare by phoning 021-4310500 or emailing info@corkcitychildcare.ie and give the required information.
“Parents and guardians who have expressed interest will receive updates when available on when the service will open and our operational times.”
Sinn Fein TD for Cork North-Central Thomas Gould, whose children attended the Before 5 creche, welcomed news that the facility will remain open.
“The news is a testament to the Trojan campaign led by staff and parents who were a voice for the children who attend Before 5 and the future generations who will now attend,” he said.
“The impact of Before 5 on the children of the northside is clearly huge and the community came out in support for the facility in large numbers.
“I want to thank the Cork City Childcare Committee and everyone involved for their work in securing this but the victory must go to the people of the northside who stood firmly led by their preschool staff and parents,” he added.
However, with the facility going into liquidation on Monday, the 14 staff of Before 5 are no longer employed, and questions remain over whether they will retain their jobs. In a statement, Northside Community Enterprises stated that they will “be recruiting personnel and everyone with the required qualifications and experience is encouraged to apply. Positions will be advertised in the coming weeks.”
Speaking about the uncertainty surrounding the staff’s future employment, Socialist Party TD for Cork North Central Mick Barry told the Cork Independent: “People power has forced the reopening of the gates at Before 5. Now people power must be employed to demand that each and every worker gets offered a job in the new facility. The workers and the community will accept nothing less.”
Thomas Gould said: “We need to see a commitment that all staff will be offered their job back and all children will retain their place.” The staff of the facility attended another protest yesterday which took place at 2.30pm.