Dara Calleary, TD, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment with responsibility for Labour Affairs launched two early childcare services, operated in partnership between HSE West Early Childcare Services and the Ballyhaunis Family Resource Centre at St Mary’s Augustinian Abbey, Ballyhaunis, last week.
The two childcare services support asylum seeker families living in a hostel and provide an integrated community-based pre-school service in the grounds of the Abbey partnership. Both services provide 66 childcare places each week and employ four childcare staff.
Minister Calleary said he was delighted to see the excellent facilities, including the outdoor play area which the children use every day. He also congratulated everyone involved in developing the project. Minister Calleary particularly welcomed the fact, that the Ballyhaunis Community Pre-school service is open to everybody in Ballyhaunis and that this would encourage integration in the community from an early age.
