Bridge building for the kids

PUBLIC representatives crossed the political divide last Friday to cut the tape and officially open the new childcare facility in Sixmilebridge, Bridge Kids.
Local Fine Gael councillor John Crowe, sporting the mayoral chain, was joined by Fianna Fáil Deputy Timmy Dooley, on behalf of Clare’s Oireachtas members, in cutting the tape to declare the facility, located under the roof of the €1.35 million purpose built centre on the Shannon Road, officially open.
The ceremony brought to an end a five-year search by Bridge Kids, operated under the auspices of The Bridge Complex, to find a place called home.
In 2004 a privately owned Montessori school, then trading as Sixmilebridge Montessori School and based in the parochial hall, was donated to the community under the care of The Bridge Complex, a registered co-operative.
Later the Montessori school also organised summer camps for older children and the name Bridge Kids was born. Grant aid, volunteering and fundraising allowed considerable work to be carried out on the indoor and outdoor areas of the parochial hall while a small staffing grant allowed the school to be staffed on a part-paid, part-voluntary basis.
Meanwhile, in 2004, outline planning permission was received for the development of a community centre and childcare facility under the auspices of The Bridge Complex. The following June, after the submission of a 400 page document by committee members, €1.1 million was awarded in grant aid under the Equal Opportunities Childcare programme.
However, because of an objection to the planning application, planning was delayed by ten months. This resulted in Bridge Kids missing the deadline under the EOCP scheme and had to reapply under the National Childcare Investment Programme.
The parochial hall was no longer deemed suitable for the service, so after consultation with the Health Service Executive, the pre-school moved to the courthouse in 2008. Finally, last August, Bridge Kids opened the doors of the purpose built building to children from three months to 12 years.
This not only created a safe, homely place for parents to entrust the care of their children, but also provided a valuable employment boost for the locality.