Wombles Pre-School, Scoil Mhuire, Airlie Heights

Rolling update - Am chasing issues up on the services facing closure as a result of DoE and NCSE decisions. My Independent colleague Cllr Helen Farrell is aware of the situation and I will be liaising with her regularly.

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3rd April

Item selected for Topical Debate. I will update with video as Dáil footage becomes available.

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2nd April - My understanding is that the preschool should be able to continue as is. While this is great news, there is uncertainty about an additional autism class and as I have been continuously submitting for topical debates on the matter I will try and get as much additional information as possible because it would be good to get a win-win situation for everyone.

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22nd March 2025

Response to specific PQ received this week:

To ask the Minister for Education to proactively ensure that a preschool (details supplied) can continue to operate from a location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) The Wombles Pre-School can continue to operate from Scoil Mhuire NS, Airlie Heights, Lucan, given that there is no alternative location available; given that there are 46 ECCE, 54 after-school and 66 places in total at risk of being removed in an area already short of childcare places; given that the income from rental also pays for therapists at the school.

REPLY

I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question is not in the ownership of my Department. I can confirm that officials from my Department have made contact with the school patron to discuss the matter.

My Department supports and encourages the use of school buildings for community and recreational purposes, where feasible, including the provision of early learning and childcare services.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question is not in the ownership of my Department. I can confirm that officials from my Department have made contact with the school patron to discuss the matter.

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Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she is aware that a preschool (details supplied) is being forced to vacate from its current location; if her Department can liaise to ensure that this important facility remains open at this location through whatever creative means necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10867/25]

Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the proactive steps being taken to provide additional ECCE places in the Lucan and Adamstown area given that four businesses have closed down in recent years and given that a preschool (details supplied) is under threat; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10868/25]

Reply: Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1322 and 1323 together.

I am advised that approximately 15% of early learning and childcare provision operates from school premises. The Programme for Government sets out the ambition to work with schools to host before and after-school childcare in school buildings as well as planning the development of State-led early learning and childcare facilities in tandem with the school building programme.Last year, the Department of Education published Procedures on the use of school property and school sports facilities outside of school hours provides. This document provides encouragement and guidance to schools to make available facilities for early learning and childcare and other community purposes when not required by the school.

I am aware however that there will be instances where classrooms or other school spaces are required for educational provision. In this regard, it may be necessary for Boards of Management to prioritise the provision of school places over early learning and childcare. Where services are experiencing challenges with premises, their local County Childcare Committee may be able to provide support to identify alternative accommodation and case management assistance may be provided by Pobal. County Childcare Committees can also support parents to find alternative places for their children as required.

Next step: To follow up on this further by resubmitting for a topical debate given that it is the lack of movement on autism classroom services elsewhere that is filling up the available places in the school. This is subject to a lottery and I have not been selected recently.. I can also query here what discussions have taken place following this “contact” with the school Patron. I would be interested to know if there has been any discussions regarding funding an additional room on-site.

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5th March 2025

10:45am - While it’s not a direct intervention with the Minister, I took the opportunity this morning during a debate on the waste of public money to point out the likely future additional costs associated with Wombles Pre-School being forced to close down and alternative services sought.

I await the responses to PQs in due course and will look for chances to highlight again in meantime. These questions will likely not be ready until after the 18th of March.

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4th March

Parliamentary questions submitted

To ask the Minister for Education and Youth to proactively ensure that The Wombles Pre-School can continue to operate from Scoil Mhuire NS, Airlie Heights, Lucan, given that there is no alternative location available; given that there are 46 ECCE, 54 after-school and 66 places in total at risk of being removed in an area already short of childcare places; given that the income from rental also pays for therapists at the school; and if a statement can be made on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she is aware that The Wombles Pre-School which provides 46 ECCE, 54 after-school and 66 places in total -is being forced to vacate from its current location at Scoil Mhuire, Airlie Heights, Lucan; whether her Department can liaise to ensure that this important facility remains open at this location through whatever creative means are necessary; and if a statement can be made on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality what proactive steps are being taken to provide additional ECCE places in the Lucan and Adamstown area given that four businesses have closed down in recent years, given that The Wombles Pre-school in Airlie Heights Lucan is under threat; and if a statement can be made on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality whether there are any plans to expedite community-based childcare in the Lucan and Adamstown and Clonburris areas, to supplement existing businesses, given the massive shortage of places; and if a statement can be made on the matter.

(This is general but it is relevant - am also chasing up wider Adamstown schools issues)

Topical debate requested

I am trying to highlight this issue by means of a "Topical Debate" in the Dáil. This goes into a lottery system so there are no guarantees it will be picked this week:

"To discuss the need for the Department of Education to proactively ensure that The Wombles Pre-School can continue to operate from Scoil Mhuire NS, Airlie Heights, Lucan, given that there is no alternative location available; given that there are 46 ECCE, 54 after-school and 66 places in total at risk of being removed in an area already short of childcare places; and given that the income from rental also pays for therapists at the school."

[Update - Not selected for Wednesday or Thursday - will look at again after PQ replies come back]

3rd March - I've been informed that the above pre-school faces closure as a room is being taken from it at its current location in the ahove primary school. There's a huge shortage of places in the wider Lucan area, but there is absolutely no other location in the immediate vicinity. While the existing room is to be used to provide autism services at the school - which is welcome - the Department still needs to be proactive in ensuring that The Wombles can continue to operate its pre-school (and after-school) services.

This is a Department of Education/ NCSE decision to open an additional autism class. The school already has two autism classes. It uses the revenue from the rental to pay for weekly SLT services and fortnightly OT services and they will also be discontinued (along with the Wombles pre school and after school service) if this 3rd class goes ahead. This should not be an either/or situation and I am hoping some creative solutions can be found.

There is a lot of pressure on Scoil Mhuire and meanwhile the Department is dragging its heels in opening hte new primary school in Adamstown. I will be chasing this up separately.

ENDS