Cork City's northside hit by another shock childcare closure

Just a year after Before 5 shut its doors, the New Horizons preschool on St Mary's Rd has informed parents it is closing immediately

Earlier this week, parents were told efforts were being made to find new management for New Horizons, but today they received correspondence saying this had not been possible. iStock

Cork City’s northside has been hit by another shock childcare closure, leaving children suddenly with no care.

A statement sent by New Horizons preschool, based on St Mary's Rd, to parents whose children were enrolled to start this term said that due to circumstances beyond their control, they were closing "with immediate effect."

Earlier this week, parents had been told that efforts were being made to find new management for the facility.

But correspondence sent to parents today, which thanked them for their patience, said that this had not been possible.

"The intended transfer of New Horizons pre-school to new management is no longer proceeding," the correspondence to parents said.

"Unfortunately, however, due to circumstances beyond my control, the preschool is closing with immediate effect.

“All deposits received will be returned via post within the next week.

“I sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for placing your trust in me over the years.” 

Cork City Childcare, the body that supports the development of childcare in Cork City, said that it had no statement in relation to the communication "that was issued to parents only by New Horizons."

The sudden closure comes one year after Before 5 creche and community centre also suddenly closed in the city’s north side, leaving some 100 families with no childcare and 14 staff without jobs.

People Before Profit-Solidarity TD for Cork North-Central Mick Barry said that the closure was "a real blow" to the parents of children enrolled in New Horizons. 

"It's terrible when you have pre-schooling all lined up and then it's snatched away from your child at the last minute," he said. 

And it's happening far too often. The State needs to take charge of pre-school education and childcare and guarantee continuity of service.

Childcare providers across the country have warned that they are going "insolvent" due to what they perceive is a lack of support from government, with providers withdrawing from the core funding system, which threatens to see prices increase for parents.

Providers who accept core funding cannot increase existing prices beyond a strict limit of €33.30 per week. 

They have argued they cannot continue to operate without additional funds.

State-run childcare is the "only common sense" solution to the current childcare crisis, the National Women's Council said last week.

Many parents "will face tough decisions about whether to pay the fees or leave work and take on childcare themselves," the NWC said.

A public system is "a crucial piece in the puzzle for women’s equality," they said.