Agenda item

(Councillor Donnelly, who had declared an interest in this item, left the meeting for the duration)

In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor Matt Collins proposed:

“This Council notes with concern that the childcare service at Mountainview Centre in West Belfast is due to close in the coming weeks.

This follows a recent announcement by the Ardmonagh Family Centre, also based on the Upper Springfield Road, that it too, is reluctantly having to terminate its services.

The Council recognises the vital resource that the Mountainview Centre has been to a large number of families over many years; by providing after schools activities and childcare services at an affordable rate.

The Council believes the closure of this service will have a negative impact on families in West Belfast.

This Council also expresses concern that several staff will face redundancy as a result of this closure.

Given the recent spiralling cost of living, and the inability for working class families to access affordable childcare, it is imperative that this centre remains open to provide after schools services and creche facilities at an affordable rate for parents.

The Council resolves to convene an urgent cross-party meeting, reaching out to both the Education and Communities Ministers and their officials, as well as Council officers and staff of the Mountainview Centre, in order to explore the possibility of keeping the doors of this invaluable service open.”

The motion was seconded by Councillor Michael Collins

            At the request of Councillor Corr, the proposer agreed to insert the following paragraph at the end of his motion:

"Furthermore, we also ask that any meeting with the education minister discusses the devastating cuts that are being made to Glor na Mona in the same community of the Upper Springfield where a 98% cut is being made to the budget Glor na Mona receive from the EA".

            At the request of Councillor Pankhurst, the proposer agreed to insert that, the urgent cross-party meeting would include the Education Authority and the Department for Finance.

            The motion, as amended, therefore read:

“This Council notes with concern that the childcare service at Mountainview Centre in West Belfast is due to close in the coming weeks.

This follows a recent announcement by the Ardmonagh Family Centre, also based on the Upper Springfield Road, that it too, is reluctantly having to terminate its services.

The Council recognises the vital resource that the Mountainview Centre has been to a large number of families over many years; by providing after schools activities and childcare services at an affordable rate.

The Council believes the closure of this service will have a negative impact on families in West Belfast.

This Council also expresses concern that several staff will face redundancy as a result of this closure.

Given the recent spiralling cost of living, and the inability for working class families to access affordable childcare, it is imperative that this centre remains open to provide after schools services and creche facilities at an affordable rate for parents.

The Council resolves to convene an urgent cross-party meeting, reaching out to the Education, Finance and Communities Ministers and their officials, as well as the Education Authority, Council officers and staff of the Mountainview Centre, in order to explore the possibility of keeping the doors of this invaluable service open.

"Furthermore, we also ask that any meeting with the Education Minister discusses the devastating cuts that are being made to Glor na Mona in the same community of the Upper Springfield where a 98% cut is being made to the budget Glor na Mona receive from the EA".

                  The motion, as amended, standing in the name of Councillor Matt Collins, was put the meeting and passed.