New childcare services to open on city’s northside
Cillian Ferry
Cork city’s northside is set to welcome new childcare and after school services to the area.
On Tuesday, Northside Community Enterprises (NCE) opened its doors to local TDs and councillors for a viewing of its new childcare facility in Churchfield Hill, ahead of its official opening at the end of the month.
NCE Little Hands Childcare and Early Education Centre aims to deliver high-quality full-daycare and after school services for the local community, and this viewing was an opportunity for the public representatives to walk through the facility before it began operations.
Highlights of the new facility will include a dedicated sensory room, a modern outdoor playground, self-sufficient childcare rooms, full daycare services and afterschool provisions.
Previous afterschool care that was provided by NCE Little Hands at Padre Pio School will also be moved to the new location.
The project began two years ago and is geared towards sustainability and performance, incorporating an energy upgrade programme. The building is equipped with solar panels, a heat pump system, enhanced wall insulation, EV chargers and new windows and doors.
Fr John O’Donovan, Chairperson of the board of management of NCE, said: “We are delighted to be able to show the facility this morning to the local TDs and councillors. We are grateful for their ongoing support with NCE Little Hands in Churchfield and all of the NCE projects.
“Over the past two years, we have worked tirelessly to bring this new childcare facility to life and we are delighted to see the project come to fruition. We are sincerely grateful to everyone who has contributed to making it possible, in particular the board of management at NCE.”
“At NCE, we acknowledge the ongoing support for this project and for our existing childcare facility in Farranferris that has been provided by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality, Pobal and Cork City Childcare. Additional financial contributions for the upgrade of the Churchfield facility have been received from the Tomar Trust, Cork City Council and SE Systems Community Fund. This project represents a significant investment in the future of childcare provision in Cork’s northside, supporting families and strengthening community infrastructure.” Fr O’Donovan also acknowledged the Department of Social Protection for its support of NCE’s projects and initiatives, and for the role they play in enabling developments such as this one in the community.