Giraffe Childcare, a consortium of business people and childcare professionals, is in talks with venture capitalists and other private investors as it plans to open a further 15 day nurseries in and around Dublin, and expand into other Irish towns and cities.
The three new centres at the Blanchardstown Corporate Park, Park West Business Park and Central Park, Leopardstown, were unveiled at a high-profile launch attended by Ireland's deputy prime minister Mary Harney. Giraffe now runs five centres in Dublin, employing 125 staff and each catering for up to 120 children.
Ms Harney said that by establishing centres in business parks and office complexes, Giraffe was 'making childcare easily accessible to working parents' and added, 'On-site accessible childcare increases the flexibility of their workforce and can be a beneficial staff recruitment tool.'
Joint managing director Mary-Ann McCormack said, 'There is currently an acute shortage of quality childcare provision in Ireland. Giraffe is committed to delivering childcare in key locations for working parents.'
The day nurseries, which open from 7.30am to 6.30pm and cost 171 euros (Pounds 105) a week, are purpose-designed with facilities for four age groups - babies, from 12 weeks to one year; 'wobblers', from one to two years; toddlers, from two to three years; and pre-school children, aged three to five. Giraffe said each age group has its own homebase, with 'motion-conscious furniture', opening on to a common 'activity street', which includes spatial learning zones and areas for dance, drama and gymnastics.
Joint managing director Simon Dowling confirmed that Giraffe was seeking the backing of venture capitalists for its expansion plans. He said building a 6,000 sq ft facility capable of housing at least 100 children costs around two million euros (1.25m). While the 1999 Finance Act had helped 'on the supply side' by providing capital allowances on the development of childcare facilities, he said, most financial support from central government comes in the form of capital grants to not-for-profit community organisations.
Private providers in Ireland can obtain an EU grant of 50,000 euros (just over 30,000) per facility, but organisations are limited to a maximum of two applications.
Mr Dowling said the childcare provision in Ireland had been hampered by traditionalist outlooks that regarded it as 'home-based'. He said Giraffe would lobby the Irish government to introduce tax credits, similar to those introduced in the UK and Northern Ireland, to help parents with their childcare costs.
The Irish government's Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme for the years 2000-06 has resulted in the creation of county childcare committees throughout the country to help put its strategy for widening provision into practice.
