IDA Ireland initiative delivers five new childcare facilities on its Business Parks

Tánaiste Mary Harney T D announced today that five new high quality childcare facilities, which will ultimately cater for over 450 children, are being provided on selected IDA Business Parks around the country. This is the first stage in the IDA's strategy to increase the supply of quality childcare places and to enhance the services available as an integral part of these Parks. These five facilities will involve an investment by the private providers of approximately €7 million.

Following public tender, successful applicants have been selected to provide the new high quality childcare service on Parks in Athlone (Garrycastle), Galway (Parkmore), Tullamore, Kilkenny and Cork.

The Tánaiste was speaking today at the official opening of "Grovelands Childcare", the first facility to commence operations under this initiative at the IDA Business and Technology Park, Garrycastle, Athlone. Grovelands Childcare is owned, managed and operated by Regina Bushell, a native of Athlone with over 26 years experience in the childcare field.

"This is just the start of a strategy being spearheaded by IDA Ireland, in line with government policy, to improve the quality of childcare services and to increase the number of childcare places and facilities available. Over the past 18 months IDA invited proposals from childcare providers for the design, construction, financing and operation of high quality childcare facilities on selected Business and Technology Parks. It is part of a national programme where IDA will designate selected sites for sale, on a managed and controlled basis, for the provision of international standard childcare facilities." said the Tánaiste.

Regina Bushell said: "Our philosophy and approach is to provide a loving and caring environment, rich in opportunity for a child's physical, social, emotional, spiritual and intellectual development. The children are free to develop their play and learning without fear of being hurt or hindered by anyone else and our primary aim is to work towards a situation in which our children can progress in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement"

"The commitment and capability of our high calibre staff has been of paramount importance to our success to date and our employees in Garrycastle have not only met our needs, but surpassed all our expectations," she added.

The Tánaiste said that she was delighted to see that the quality, flexibility and range of services to be provided at these facilities was of the highest levels. "The selected childcare providers have a level of expertise that can only act to enhance our professional reputation both at home and abroad with potential investors. Central to IDA's regional development strategy is Ireland's ability to locate highly skilled people and their families to targeted regional locations and in this capacity we need to ensure that quality childcare is available to encourage and facilitate mobility" she added.

"IDA's plan for the future, and included in its balanced regional development programme, is ultimately to ensure the provision of quality childcare facilities on all its Business Parks where there is a clear need, taking into account the surrounding catchment area and the extent of existing facilities currently provided. I welcomed this family friendly initiative last year when IDA was seeking proposals and I am now happy to see that the commitment is being fulfilled to the highest standard and with the children's needs at the forefront at all times" she stated.

"This childcare strategy will serve to enhance the fundamental services available on key IDA Business Parks and will underpin their status as centres of economic and social activity for the communities around them," the Tánaiste concluded.

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Notes for Editors

Grovelands Childcare, the first of the new facilities to open, has operated a successful childcare facility in Athlone since 1992 and Regina Bushell's new facility in Garrycastle will cater for over 80 children, ranging in ages from newborn to teenagers, providing a comprehensive childcare service to incorporate baby and wobbler care, toddler care, playgroup, Montessori and after-and-out-of-school care.

Grovelands Childcare was successful also in its bid for the Tullamore facility, which hopes to commence operations in 2004 providing a similar service as the Athlone facility and catering for up to 90 children. The Ark Early Years Care and Education Centres Ltd was the successful applicant for the facilities in Galway (Parkmore Business and Technology Park) and Cork. The Galway facility will accommodate over 90 children and is under construction at present with a start up date of Spring 2004. The Cork facility will cater for over 100 children and is due to open in September 2004. Busy Bees Creche and Montessori was the successful applicant for the Kilkenny Business and Technology Park, catering for over 70 children with a start up date envisaged of September 2004.

The selection process was conducted by a panel comprising representatives from IDA and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, together with external expertise in the areas of childcare and financial evaluation. The selection process places emphasis on quality in relation to the capacity of each applicant to provide a facility and level of service to the highest international standards of childcare.

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