Childcare committee to be invited to appear before council

A Social Democrats councillor has called on the Clane Maynooth Municipal District to invite Kildare County Childcare Committee (KCCC) to a subsequent MD meeting to discuss “childcare solutions” and community creche initiatives.

Cllr Peter Melrose put forward his motion at a meeting of Clane-Maynooth Municipal District held on Friday September 5 last.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Melrose said that while he was “sure” all councillors received representations about childcare, he was personally “frustrated” looking at residential developments going into the MD without adequate, fit-for-purpose creches.

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He said he would like to invite the KCCC committee into council chambers to hear advice and guidance on childcare concerns.

There was a need, he said, to discuss “tangible childcare solutions” for the municipal district.

Cllr Melrose said he attended a public meeting on childcare in Kilcock in July last, where he heard parents were travelling from Maynooth to Mullingar to avail of childcare provision, which he said is “crazy, crazy stuff.”

The community creche initiative also really needs to be emphasised, he said. “It's had its success stories, so let's build on that”, he said, and see what's possible in the MD.

It was agreed by the council to invite KCCC to a subsequent council meeting to discuss childcare solutions and community creche initiatives.