Warning of national crisis in community creche sector

The CEO of the country’s largest community education organisation, which Minister for Children Katherine Zappone helped found, has warned the crisis at creches in disadvantaged areas is not confined to Cork.

Maura McMahon, of An Cosán, which runs 10 creches in Dublin, said: “There are fears amongst many in the sector nationally that we won’t be able to afford to keep the doors open as an unintended consequence of the development of the childcare sector.

“Between birth and three years of age is the absolute optimum time to intervene with children from disadvantaged areas.