A lobbying campaign is under way to persuade politicians locally and nationally that the New bury House initiative in Cork deserves continuing support.
Newbury House provides low-cost, high-quality childcare to parents on low incomes, and to single parents wanting to avail of first-time or new educational opportunities.
The main source of funding for the centre, which has a full-time manager backed up by eight part-time staff, is the EU's Urban Initiative, aimed at helping disadvantaged areas. From last Sept ember to this December, this fun ding will have come to £76,000. The question is what will happen after Christmas when the funding runs out.
In the past year, more than 40 families have been supported by Newbury House and there is quite a long waiting list.
The childcare manager, Ms Maire Corbett, says: "The service is needed to support parents into work/education. There is a particular need for low-income earners, many of whom are early school-leavers who cannot afford the going rate for childcare. Subsidised childcare helps provide an incentive for parents, enabling them to get a foot on the ladder, thereby improving their quality of life and that of their children, as well as breaking the cycle of poverty.
"The current crisis in childcare is well documented. The focus needs to remain firmly on this vital issue until the necessary funding is provided for quality childcare provision for all our children."
The board of management at the centre includes a representative of the Mercy Sisters and the Southern Health Board, which has been another source of funding.
The creche facility is often the avenue through which some mothers first become aware that there is more on offer.
The pre-school, built in 1996 and funded by the Cork Community Development Institute, caters for an average of 30 children a day, ranging in age from three to five years. The centre fosters a community spirit and atmosphere, provides counselling services to individuals, couples and families, and emphasises the potential of everyone who enters the building on Cork's Old Youghal Road.
A purpose-built art centre was completed in 1997 and is now used for adult and children's art classes, as well as providing a meeting place for community associations and girl guides.