New childcare, after-school facility planned for Ballymote
A major boost is on the way for the south Sligo town of Ballymote. It’s the planned opening of a new childcare and after-school facility in what was Fawlty’s public house on O’Connell Street in the town. Sligo County Council has granted planning permission for the change of use of…
Need for extensive reform of childcare sector
A Sligo councillor says there is a need for reform of the whole childcare sector to make it fair for parents, staff and providers. Sinn Fein Councillor Thomas Healy says says childcare workers are often on minimum wage. He was speaking as efforts continue to find a new service provider…
Pay stoppage threat for creches
A Sligo/Leitrim general election candidate is calling on Children and Youth Affairs Minister Katherine Zappone to withdraw a threat to stop payments to creches for a day that their staff attend a demonstration over funding. The creches have been told that they will lose payments if they close on February…
Creches consider protest to highlight many issues facing the childcare sector
Hundreds of creches are planning to shut their doors in the coming weeks in a day of protest. Childcare providers say they are being forced into the action because of a crisis in the sector. They will meet today to decide when the closures will take place. Claire Barden, from…
Former board director of local crèche appalled by RTE documentary
Margaret McGee from Ballymote is a former director of the board of her local crèche. She says she is as someone who has held that position, and also as a childminder and a parent, she is appalled by the revelations contained in last week’s RTE Investigates programme, on breaches in…
‘Boil water’ notice means higher costs for businesses in south, west Sligo
The owner of a creche in Ballymote has hit out at Irish Water after a boil water notice was issued for South and West Sligo. About 13,000 people and dozens of businesses across the county have been effected. Water used for drinking, preparing food that is not cooked, brushing teeth…