'A devastating blow': Impact of shock closure of Cork creche being felt on northside

The father of a young boy has described how his son has now lost out on a preschool place two years in a row, after the confirmation of the shock closure of New Horizons montessori and creche facility in Blackpool, Cork, last Friday.

The boy had been due to attend the Before 5 facility in Churchfield last September, however, that also closed suddenly last year.

That facility has not yet reopened, with new owners Northside Community Enterprises understood to be seeking Government funding to bring the facility in line with building regulations.

Stephen Lyes’ son was one of 38 children who were due to start at New Horizons this week.

“He was meant to start at Before 5 this time last year,” Mr Lyes told The Echo.

“When it closed, there were so many children looking [for alternative pre-school places] that it was impossible to get a place for him.

“We just wanted him to get in somewhere, make a few friends, and take the pressure off of organising childminding.”

Mr Lyes added: “We’re lucky, we’ve gotten a place in the Glen for him now, but we had the uniforms all purchased and, in the current climate, some families would have struggled with having to buy those.

“It seems to be an issue in this locality in particular, it’s always the northside that’s left behind.”

Erica Pepper, whose son was also supposed to start in New Horizons, said that the situation was “very disheartening”.

“We’re all in a panic trying to figure out what to do now,” she said.

“I contacted a few places.

“One lady just said she was so sorry but the waiting list was chock-a-block, she couldn’t even offer my son a place for next year.”

She explained that she doesn’t drive so pre-schools further away are not an option for her, but added that some other parents had gotten places outside of the locality.

She added: “My son doesn’t have a lot of opportunity to be around other kids his own age. This would have been a great opportunity for him, but he mightn’t get that chance now until next year, and we were just given so little notice to sort something else out.”

Parents with children registered at the pre-school, which is based at the St Vincent’s campus on St Mary’s Road, were informed that it would not reopen until new management was in place.

However, it was confirmed late last week that new management has not been secured in time for the new term.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould said: “It’s terrible what’s after happening.

“The problem here is that, because it’s been closed, it could take months if not a year to get it re-opened because of all the bureaucracy and red tape.”

This has happened too many times on the northside, he said, explaining: “There’s a shortage of pre-school places and now we’ve lost another one — it’s a devastating blow for families and the community.”