Deputy Mitchell O’Connor said: ‘The official opening of the Cottage Home Family Support Service will be met with a real sense of achievement by those involved in the project. The voluntary organisation, which began as a crèche, has been in existence since 1897. The service, which is self-funded, now provides valuable early intervention and family support services, including home visits, parenting support, home visits and counselling and play therapy.

“Minister Fitzgerald and I will then meet with the Women In Business Alliance at the Dun Laoghaire Chamber of Commerce, where the Minister will address the meeting. Ensuring that women are supported to reach their full potential and to succeed in business is a key objective of this Government, which has earmarked funding to support women’s participation in the labour market and local community projects across the country.

“Getting the balance right by encouraging women to return to the labour market and enable them to attain equal success in reaching their business goals is essential to the creation of an well-adjusted and equitable society. Providing services which allow families who are struggling to cope with everyday life is key to building solid family structures and functioning communities.

“Schools such as the Harold Primary School, which we will also visit are helping to identify the gaps that are causing difficulties where raising a family are concerned. The school is facilitating parents through the provision of after school care, which is run by professional childcare workers. This demonstrates a constructive approach to our childcare needs as the school, which is owned by the taxpayer, can deliver after school care at a significantly reduced price.

“Harold Primary School could well be used as a blueprint for the after school care needs of parents, which I will be pointing out to the Minister tomorrow during our visit. The official opening of the Cottage Cottage Home Family Support Service will acknowledge the essential family support work that is being carried out at community level. The Minister’s address to the Women in Business Alliance will do the same for female entrepreneurs and the local business community.”

Details
Date: Thursday, 25^th April 2013
Venue: The Cottage Home Family Support Service, Scoil Mhuire, Rathsallagh, Shankill
Time: 2pm
Venue: Harold Primary School, Eden Road, Glasthule,
Time: 5pm
Venue: Women in Business Alliance, Dun Laoghaire Chamber of Commerce,1 Haigh Terrace 
Time: 6pm

25 April 2013