Orlaith McNamee, Sophie Harte, Louise Toner, Donna Kenny ......Average cost for childcare rises to...
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Monday, August 27, 2018 NEWS DONEGAL NEWS 7 FOR ALL YOUR ADVERTISING NEEDS CONTACT OUR SALES TEAM ON 074 91 21014 or email: [email protected] BY CONOR SHARKEY CHILDCARE costs remain the “greatest burden” on parents in Donegal, according to a local sup- port organisation. Donegal’s County Childcare Committee spoke out this week following the publication of a Newstalk survey which shows how the monthly fee for a two- year-old in full-time care is €719 - a 3.1 per-cent increase in the past five years. Donegal’s average is still lower than the national average of €745 however and substantially less than in Dublin where the month- ly bill for parents is €1,047. The cheapest county in Ireland when it comes to childcare is Longford where the fee is €650. Donegal County Childcare says that historically, there has been a lack of investment in Ireland’s childcare sector compared to oth- er countries. And while Minister for Children Katherine Zappone is working to address the shortfall, childcare costs remain a major burden on parents. Donna Kenny of Donegal Coun- ty Childcare said: “Children and young people have rights to qual- ity care and education and Minis- ter Zappone recently highlighted that since 2016 government in- vestment in the early years sector has increased by some 80 per- cent. It appears though that the cash strapped middle earner may still be finding childcare costs the greatest burden. Increased gov- ernment funding in this area is particularly needed.” Ms Kenny added that there were several government-funded subsidy schemes open to parents struggling to meet their childcare costs and that to date, 7,428 chil- dren in Donegal had benefited from the subvention programmes. These include a new, non- means tested universal subsidy worth up to €1,040 per year and which is available to families with children under the age of three. The Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme is a universal childcare programme designed to give children access to a maxi- mum of two years free pre-school education before they start pri- mary school. And 2,920 children in Donegal have accessed targeted subsidies under schemes which are avail- able to support families on low in- come including those on back to work and training programmes. Childcare has been a thorny is- sue for the government in recent times with Minister Shane Ross sparking debate with his ‘granny grant’ proposal which would offer grandparents €1,000 for childcare. Katherine Zappone on the other hand wants all crèches exempt from paying commercial rates. Donegal County Childcare said it was not in favour of Shane Ross’s suggestion as it would be of no benefit to those not in employ- ment. Average cost for childcare rises to €719 Orlaith McNamee, Sophie Harte, Louise Toner, Donna Kenny and Noeleen Killen, Donegal Community Childcare. Over 7,000 children in Donegal had benefited from the subvention programmes BY CONOR SHARKEY FRIENDS of Shaun Dunworth, the Ramelton man seriously in- jured in a fall in Australia, have raised almost €55,000 to support his recovery. It is four weeks since the 21- year-old was found lying on the road below Sydney’s High Road under-pass. His condition was initially de- scribed as critical and members of his family rushed to be by his hospital bed side in Australia. The Donegal News under- stands that Shaun has since un- dergone a number of operations. While the Ramelton man re- mains in hospital in Sydney, back in Ireland friends and family have been raising money to assist with the long road to recovery he now faces. So far the Shaun Dunworth Re- covery Fund, set up via go- fundme.com, has attracted dona- tions just shy of €55,000. Meanwhile pals are preparing to hit the road in a bid to put more money into the recovery fund. On Saturday September 8 a car run will leave The Quay in Ramelton at 1pm before heading towards Kilmacrennan, Creeslough, Carrigart, Fanad be- fore returning to Ramelton. Back at The Quay a static car display will be held from 4-6pm. Co-organising the car run is Declan McGarvey. “I worked in Durkan’s and Shaun would have worked next door in the cafe,” Mr McGarvey said. “He’s just a while nice, bubbly big fella who gets on with every- one. I don’t know a single person who would have a bad word to say about him. “The thinking behind the car run is that it just appeals to a dif- ferent audience so you aren’t ask- ing the same people for donations all the time. Some of the boys who are into cars might not be into the dances and other events that are being organised so it’s just a way of approaching a different crowd of people.” While there is an emphasis on vintage/classic cars and sports and high performance vehicles, everyone is welcome to get in- volved in the car run. Entry is €20 per car with all proceeds going towards the Shaun Dunworth Recovery Fund. For more information about the car run contact Declan on 0868063473 or Ciaran on 0868560153. Almost €55,000 raised for Ramelton man critically injured in Australia Friends organising car run to assist recovery fund Shaun Dunworth. Uni Box with ThePostalStore! GOING TO UNI THIS AUTUMN? UNIT 11A, LETTERKENNY FORTE RETAIL PARK, NEIL T BLANEY ROAD, LETTERKENNY, CO DONEGAL We can ship a 30kg box anywhere in Ireland for only Any anywhere in the UK for only €9.95 €16.70 TRADITIONAL FISH & CHIPS Pearse Rd, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal | 074 912 5961 Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 8am to 7pm Takeaway Hours: Monday to Saturday 12pm to 7pm Serving Letterkenny’s finest fish & chips since 1984 When it comes to great tasting, satisfyingly delicious hot food...
Transcript of Orlaith McNamee, Sophie Harte, Louise Toner, Donna Kenny ......Average cost for childcare rises to...
Monday, August 27, 2018 NEWS DONEGAL NEWS 7
FOR ALL YOUR ADVERTISING NEEDSCONTACT OUR SALES TEAM
ON 074 91 21014or email: [email protected]
BY CONOR SHARKEY
CHILDCARE costs remain the“greatest burden” on parents inDonegal, according to a local sup-port organisation.
Donegal’s County ChildcareCommittee spoke out this weekfollowing the publication of aNewstalk survey which showshow the monthly fee for a two-year-old in full-time care is €719 -a 3.1 per-cent increase in the pastfive years.
Donegal’s average is still lowerthan the national average of €745however and substantially lessthan in Dublin where the month-ly bill for parents is €1,047.
The cheapest county in Irelandwhen it comes to childcare isLongford where the fee is €650.
Donegal County Childcare says
that historically, there has been alack of investment in Ireland’schildcare sector compared to oth-er countries. And while Ministerfor Children Katherine Zappone isworking to address the shortfall,childcare costs remain a majorburden on parents.
Donna Kenny of Donegal Coun-ty Childcare said: “Children andyoung people have rights to qual-ity care and education and Minis-ter Zappone recently highlightedthat since 2016 government in-vestment in the early years sectorhas increased by some 80 per-cent. It appears though that thecash strapped middle earner maystill be finding childcare costs the
greatest burden. Increased gov-ernment funding in this area isparticularly needed.”
Ms Kenny added that therewere several government-fundedsubsidy schemes open to parentsstruggling to meet their childcarecosts and that to date, 7,428 chil-dren in Donegal had benefitedfrom the subvention programmes.
These include a new, non-means tested universal subsidyworth up to €1,040 per year andwhich is available to families withchildren under the age of three.
The Early Childhood Care andEducation Scheme is a universalchildcare programme designed togive children access to a maxi-
mum of two years free pre-schooleducation before they start pri-mary school.
And 2,920 children in Donegalhave accessed targeted subsidiesunder schemes which are avail-able to support families on low in-come including those on back towork and training programmes.
Childcare has been a thorny is-sue for the government in recenttimes with Minister Shane Rosssparking debate with his ‘grannygrant’ proposal which would offergrandparents €1,000 for childcare.Katherine Zappone on the otherhand wants all crèches exemptfrom paying commercial rates.
Donegal County Childcare saidit was not in favour of ShaneRoss’s suggestion as it would be ofno benefit to those not in employ-ment.
Average cost forchildcare rises to €719
Orlaith McNamee, Sophie Harte, Louise Toner, Donna Kenny and Noeleen Killen, Donegal Community Childcare.
Over 7,000 children in Donegal hadbenefited from the subvention programmes
BY CONOR SHARKEY
FRIENDS of Shaun Dunworth,the Ramelton man seriously in-jured in a fall in Australia, haveraised almost €55,000 to supporthis recovery.
It is four weeks since the 21-year-old was found lying on theroad below Sydney’s High Roadunder-pass.
His condition was initially de-scribed as critical and membersof his family rushed to be by hishospital bed side in Australia.
The Donegal News under-stands that Shaun has since un-dergone a number of operations.
While the Ramelton man re-mains in hospital in Sydney, backin Ireland friends and family havebeen raising money to assist withthe long road to recovery he now
faces.So far the Shaun Dunworth Re-
covery Fund, set up via go-fundme.com, has attracted dona-tions just shy of €55,000.
Meanwhile pals are preparingto hit the road in a bid to putmore money into the recoveryfund.
On Saturday September 8 a carrun will leave The Quay inRamelton at 1pm before headingtowards Kilmacrennan,Creeslough, Carrigart, Fanad be-fore returning to Ramelton. Backat The Quay a static car displaywill be held from 4-6pm.
Co-organising the car run isDeclan McGarvey.
“I worked in Durkan’s andShaun would have worked nextdoor in the cafe,” Mr McGarveysaid.
“He’s just a while nice, bubblybig fella who gets on with every-one. I don’t know a single personwho would have a bad word to
say about him.“The thinking behind the car
run is that it just appeals to a dif-ferent audience so you aren’t ask-ing the same people for donationsall the time. Some of the boys whoare into cars might not be into thedances and other events that arebeing organised so it’s just a wayof approaching a different crowdof people.”
While there is an emphasis onvintage/classic cars and sportsand high performance vehicles,everyone is welcome to get in-volved in the car run.
Entry is €20 per car with allproceeds going towards theShaun Dunworth Recovery Fund.For more information about thecar run contact Declan on0868063473 or Ciaran on0868560153.
Almost €55,000 raised for Rameltonman critically injured in Australia
Friends organising car run to assist recovery fund
Shaun Dunworth.
Uni Boxwith ThePostalStore!
GOING TO UNI THIS AUTUMN?
UNIT 11A, LETTERKENNY FORTE RETAIL PARK,NEIL T BLANEY ROAD, LETTERKENNY, CO DONEGAL
We can ship a 30kg boxanywhere in Ireland for only
Any anywhere in the UK for only
€9.95€16.70
TRADITIONAL FISH & CHIPSPearse Rd, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal | 074 912 5961
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 8am to 7pmTakeaway Hours: Monday to Saturday 12pm to 7pm
Serving Letterkenny’s finest fish & chips since 1984
When it comes to great tasting,
satisfyingly delicious hot food...
