Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I spoke to the Minister last week regarding the Before 5 childcare facility in Churchfield. It had a preschool, after-school care, a crèche and adult education. It had everything and was in a DEIS area in the heart of Churchfield and Gurranabraher. It has closed down but €364,000 will get it open. That would get hundreds of kids into childcare in our community but we cannot get the money. The people of Churchfield and Gurranabraher deserve answers. The children deserve answers. I had a parent in with me during the week. She has a child with additional needs who cannot settle in the school she has to travel to out in Blarney. I do not know if the Minister knows Cork that well but the child had to go out from Churchfield out to Blarney and in the end, the child gave up. If we do not get the Before 5 centre open in September, where is that child going to go? That mother is at her wit's end because she also has two younger children. All she is looking for is help. Will the Minister give a commitment to give the capital funding? Like the other Deputies, we need extra capacity and childcare and we need the Before 5 centre open. I ask him to give that commitment here.

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