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Over 50 jobs lost in shock West Clare closure

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APPROXIMATELY 50 staff of West Clare Early Years, whose headquarters is located at Glebe House in Crawford Street Kilrush, have been told today (Saturday) that they are being laid off. Come Monday morning up to 400 families will now have no childcare. The centre in Kilrush and outreach centres in Kildysart, Kilkee, Lissycasey and Kilmihil will close with immediate effect. This closure is a devastating blow to the West Clare region, given the size of the workforce and the significance of the service to families in the area.

The West Clare Family Resource Centre has called a public meeting for Monday at 7.30pm in Kilrush Community Centre to deal with the fall out from the development.

“We’ll be gathering on Monday evening to work out a campaign and to call upon local and national politicians to take fast action to guarantee our children aren’t left without good quality care,” Mary O’Donoghue, Co-ordinator of the West Clare Family Resource Centre in Kilrush said.

“These closures are a catastrophe for families who rely on childcare, not to mention the 53 workers who have lost their jobs. First and foremost, we will be calling for reinstatement of all childcare services that have closed. But then we will be insisting that local and national leaders put in place measures that mean this situation can’t happen again in the future,” she added.

The employees were told by text message on Saturday that there were losing their jobs.

“It is with deep regret that the Board of Management of West Clare Early Years, at a meeting held this morning (Saturday) have decided to close down and liquidate the company and all childcare centres and services are closed with immediate effect,” the message to employees  read.

“So please, do not attend for work from Monday morning. A meeting with all staff will be held in due course,” the message advised. West Clare Early Years was established on January 4, 2000.

Independent Kilrush election candidate Ian Lynch has told The Clare Champion that Minister for Children, James Reilly, should intervene immediately.

“This is terrible news for West Clare. Over 50 local jobs have been lost but up to 400 families now have no childcare for Monday morning. This needs immediate intervention from Minister James Reilly. I don’t care if the Dáil is dissolved and I don’t care where the government gets the money from. These facilities must remain open at all costs,” Councillor Lynch stated.

“This has the potential to take nearly 500 people out of work. Childcare spaces are extremely difficult to get. What are families to do? We have the facilities and we have the staff. The Government must get the money and open these facilities straight away,” Councillor Lynch maintained.

Meanwhile Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara has described the development as “a huge blow to staff and parents,” adding that he met some affected people in West Clare on Saturday.
“The widespread effects are immediately evident as we met parents throughout West Clare. Affordable childcare is an essential  to the economy of the region and its people. Its shutdown, however temporary, will have disastrous effects,” he said, before asking for Pobal to assess the situation.
“I am calling on the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, James Reilly, in conjunction with Pobal, to address the situation immediately and utilise the existing subventions, staff and facilities in addition to whatever additional organisational and funding supports are required to open the doors again. The future of the regional economy and the livelihoods of several hundred people are at stake. This is no time for bureaucratic constraints or sitting on hands,” Deputy McNamara stated.

 

By Peter O’Connell

Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.

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