Doras Buí Créche

The availability of high quality childcare provision can play a key role in tackling poverty, both by facilitating parents to take advantage of training, education and education opportunities, and by providing early education and development for children in low income households.

Access to affordable childcare emerged as an issue in our work in 1986 as soon as we opened our doors. As a result in 1998 our resource centre was extended to provide a full time Creche which has capacity for 50 full time childcare places.  However, usage of the Creche is mainly on a part time basis as the majority of parents are in part time employment.

In Doras Buí the emphasis is on the provision of quality childcare.  Research data has confirmed that the child care provider is one of the most important elements in quality child care and it can make a significant difference in children's development.  Good staffing ratios, an environment that protects children's safety and well-being and well planned activities are essential ingredients in quality child care setting. 

All the staff in our Creche are trained and certified in the High Scope Early Years Curriculum, an approach to early education designed to provide opportunities to learn in meaningful situations and within a variety of social contexts.  The High Scope approach fosters the characteristics of independence, the ability to make decisions and problem-solving, taken together can best be described as life skills.

Fees charged to parents are on a sliding scale depending on individual circumstances and are set within the framework of the Government's Community Subvention Scheme (GCSS).  As a not for profit Creche operating in a disadvantaged community, Doras Buí is pleased to acknowledge that the State provide 80% of the running costs of the Creche.