The persistent presence of the Covid-19 pandemic has detrimentally impacted upon the local childcare sector with the closure of the Grovelands Childcare Plus Corran Riada centre in Monksland due to the necessary isolation of 19 members of staff this week.
The Corran Riada centre is the first childcare service to cease operations in the country since returning in the new year.
A statement issued to the Athlone Advertiser by Grovelands Childcare Plus this week confirmed that the closure of the Corran Riada centre was currently affecting over 90 families with 108 children at home, awaiting a return to facility when those staff members in isolation are able to return to the work environment.
‘Despite having fully adhered to public health guidelines, currently, 19 staff are isolating, 108 children are at home, affecting over 90 of families. Outside of the Corran Riada centre there are a further 14 staff isolating across the other Grovelands Childcare Plus centres.
‘We at Grovelands Childcare Plus have “gone above and beyond” public health advice by sending close contact staff home, despite the HSE saying they could remain working. Deirdre Frampton-Bushell, Director of Operations, took that decision having seen how rapidly and easily the Omicron variant spread through the centre
‘The centre was inspected by Tusla before Christmas and deemed ‘fully compliant’ with health and safety measures and since reopening last year, Grovelands provided antigen tests to staff where need.
‘Since reopening post Christmas, staff now routinely antigen tested twice weekly on a Monday and Wednesday in the service before working with children. Grovelands ensures staff have access to medical grade masks, PPE attire, handwashing facilities and sanitiser.
‘Grovelands are working to reopen as quickly as possible – keeping children, their families and staff health and safety first and foremost and depending on staff PCR results they hope to reopen some pods on Monday, January 17 and be fully open once again on Wednesday, January 19 - PCR results permitting.
‘Grovelands want to make people aware of just how easily transmissible the Omicron variant is. Despite adhering to an extremely high level of health and safety precaution they have had to close one of their services – the first time since the pandemic began.
‘Parents have been extremely supportive and understanding but the Grovelands team fully understands how difficult and challenging it is, particularly for working parents when they cannot send children to childcare services,’ the statement concluded.
Operating six centres in Athlone and the wider Midlands region, Grovelands Childcare Plus is a progressive early learning and care service.
