Childcare company abandons plans for creche in Cork after planning rejected again

Some 400 parents in Ballincollig now forced to look elsewhere for childcare after Múin Childcare decided not to lodge appeal with An Bord Pleanála

Before 5 Family Centre in Churchfield: It is understood meetings to discuss funding options are due to take place towards the end of next week. Picture: Larry Cummins

A childcare company has abandoned plans for a creche in a business park west of Cork City while on the northside, the future of a replacement creche now hinges on a Government funding decision.

Múin Childcare’s decision in relation to its proposed Ballincollig creche affects some 400 parents who had expressed an interest in availing of its services.

While in Churchfield, more than 100 parents who were left in the lurch following the sudden closure of the Before 5 creche last August are waiting anxiously for a funding decision due within weeks which could clear the way for a not-for-profit group to reopen the childcare facility.

A few months after Before 5's closure, Northside Community Enterprises began exploring the possibility of resuming a childcare service in the premises.

It has prepared a detailed report outlining how an investment of some €366,000 is required up bring the building up to standard, and for other minor upgrades that would improve the functionality and allow other services to be provided.

It is understood meetings to discuss funding options are due to take place towards the end of next week.

Meanwhile, in Ballincollig, 400 parents who had been hoping for the development of a new creche must now find other childcare solutions after its owners said they have had to abandon the project.

The Irish Examiner reported last month that city council planners had shot down Múin’s second attempt to secure planning for a 96-space creche in three vacant units in Ballincollig’s Westpoint business park, off the town’s Link Road.

Kate Gaffney of Múin: Owners said because there was now a backlog of up to 12 months in the planning appeals board, they understood the business units’ landlord could not wait another year for a decision. Picture: Clare Keogh

Múin was considering an appeal of the decision to An Bord Pleanála but in an update on Wednesday, its owners said they have had to abandon the project, but plan to discuss the wider crisis in childcare with Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman when he visits the city next week.

In a statement to parents, Clodagh Barrett and Kate Gaffney said because there was now a backlog of up to 12 months in the planning appeals board, they understood the business units’ landlord could not wait another year for a decision.

“This leaves us with no other opinion but to abandon the project,” they said.

“We will continue to seek any opportunities that may arise and we have a meeting with Minister O'Gorman on Monday where we will address the current childcare crisis and the barriers in place that are stopping services from expanding and being able to provide much needed places.”

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Múin was refused planning last September for a creche in the three vacant business park units.

In its second planning application lodged in February, its planning consultants said they had addressed the council’s concerns which were raised in the September refusal, with various re-design.

But in their decision, planners said given the mid-terrace location of the proposed creche, rather than a stand-alone purpose-built facility, it was considered “conflicting uses, safe pedestrian and cycling movements to access the site, and potential noise disturbance for adjoining units” would materially conflict with the zoning objectives of the site.