UPDATE: ADDITION: Almost one-in-three children have been deprived of food, heating or clothing during the recession, according to a new study from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
The country’s largest community childcare centre is facing closure due to a funding crisis. The Darndale Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service, located on Dublin’s Northside, has experienced funding cuts over the last number of years that have now placed it in a severe financial crisis.
The study, entitled 'Winners and Losers? The Equality Impact of the Great Recession in Ireland' looked at the impact on the downturn on different age groups and family types over the past five years.
It found that younger people have been the worst affected, with unemployment rates hitting 25% for the under 25s.
Some 130,000 children are found to have suffered deprivation, defined as not being able to afford basic food, clothes or heating. Almost 33% of under-14s fall into this category, compared to 11% for the over-65s.
Younger people were also hit harder by job losses, with unemployment among the under-25s reaching 25% compared to 12% for those aged 45 and over.
Cohabiting couples with children experienced the steepest rise in job cuts, while childless couples were far less likely to be deprived.
"There are no clear ‘winners’ in this report: we find rising unemployment and deprivation across the population," said author Dr Frances McGinnity.
"However significant inequalities between groups existed in Irish society before the recession, and to a large extent these persist, though some groups certainly lost more."
A separate study by the think-tank looked at the impact of job-losses on both sexes, with men suffering the most dramatic impact.
The gender gap between men and women in work fell from 16% in 2007 to 8% in 2012 - while 1 in 10 women are now the main breadwinner.
---------------------The country’s largest community childcare centre is facing closure due to a funding crisis. The Darndale Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service, located on Dublin’s Northside, has experienced funding cuts over the last number of years that have now placed it in a severe financial crisis.
With 250 children in attendance daily, most under the age of 6 years, the Darndale Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service needs a €200,000 cash injection to secure the centre to the end of 2014. A further €200,000 would be needed to make the centre sustainable.
The centre has won numerous awards and been held up as an example of community involvement in the past.
Ciarán Mulhall, Chairman of the Voluntary Board of Management said that a closure would have a massive effect on the community.
“The closure will have a detrimental effect on the area and vulnerable children will be put at immediate risk. We are a feeder for three local DEIS schools in the area and the development that the children receive at the centre is vital for their progress in education.
We are pleading with the government for this much needed funding in order to protect the centre, its children and the jobs of our employees.
The issue was raised today in the Dáil by local Labour TD Sean Kenny.
He said that the centre should not be a allowed to close.
“I believe that it is unacceptable that such a vital service as the Darndale Belcamp Integrated Childcare Service Ltd, that has the full support of the local agencies and public representatives, would close.
“The centre needs to know this week if these funds can be provided as their cash flow is again drying up and they have informed their staff and parents of the actual date of closure, which will be by month end or they face the risk of trading recklessly.”
- www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2014-
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