Our school has just €40 left… we’re begging Govt for help but 48 kids will have nowhere to go after closure in weeks
AN early years centre facing closure over debts is “begging the Government for help.”
Moatview Early Education Centre in Coolock, Dublin 17, is a preschool for children aged two-and-a-half to five.
Manager Susin Russell told The Irish Sun the centre, which opened in 1992, has just €40 in its accounts to pay the wages of eight staff.
It has pleaded for support from early years government bodies since January.
Despite debts of more than €25,000, state-backed body Pobal only recently gave the centre €22,000.
Susin said: “We’re in dire straits. We’re begging for help from the Government.
“We’ve been crying out for help since January. But last week we got news the amount granted by Pobal would be €22,000, which doesn’t even cover monies owed, never mind put us on a firm footing.
“We are in an area where many families don’t have anything. We have children whose only hot meal a day will be from us.”
She added: “We are not asking for millions. The Government says they want to make childcare affordable in the Budget.
“We need enough to sustain ourselves. We need funds to save our centre.
“It is a terrible state of affairs that the Government can pay millions to cover Donald Trump’s two-day visit to Ireland but our children have to beg for early education.”
Shocked parents were given letters last week breaking the news Moatview was at risk of closure.
Dad Conor Grassick, 33, said: “All the parents are worried.
“There’s a massive possibility the centre could be closed in the coming weeks if they don’t get adequate funding.
“My son would have nowhere to go. There are no childcare places in the area.”
Parents have set up a GoFundMe page to try and keep the centre doors open.
