Doherty lambasts Tánaiste over Raphoe Community Playgroup not receiving funding

Pearse Doherty has raised the issue with Tánaiste Simon Harris of Raphoe Community Playgroup being refused funding to rebuild their building.

The playgroup is a community childcare service and had to leave their building when it was condemned due to the presence of defective concrete blocks. Since then, they were told to apply for funding, but none has been granted, the Donegal TD and Sinn Féin Spokesperson for Finance, Deputy said.

The community playgroup has been in operation since 1982 and moved into a new building in 2000.

The not-for-profit organisation was told in March this year that the building contained defective blocks and it would have to be condemned.

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As the childcare facility is classed as a commercial building, it was not covered by the defective concrete blocks grant scheme and the group has been unable to source funding from any government body.

Representatives of the playgroup met then Taoiseach Harris in November during a visit to Donegal, and they said he has pledged his support for a rebuild of the facility.

Teachta Doherty said: “Tánaiste, I’ve raised the issue of Raphoe Community Playgroup a number of times last year. I had commitments from the Minister that funding would be available. You met yourself with the group.

“We were told that funding would be made available. They applied for the funding that they were told to apply for and now they have not been granted it.

“They have written to you, and you’ve responded that they don’t own the land and that the council does. So, despite the fact they have a 22-year lease, they can’t rebuild their community group.

“Why is this important? This is a community group that was funded by EU and fundraising money. It has got defective blocks. It is condemned. They are currently in another building that isn’t fit for purpose. They have to take the tables and chairs and put them in a shed every single evening. It is not acceptable – this was not a thing of their making.

“Defective blocks got onto the market because of lack of regulation during successive governments and now the funding that they were told would be there to help them rebuild their premises has been refused. “How many times do we have to raise this?

“You’ve pledged about community childcare facilities. There is a serious issue in terms of childcare. This community group tells us that they will not be able to function next year unless they get the funding to rebuild the playgroup. So, can I ask you, can you please intervene? Knock some heads together and give this group the money that they need to build their community playgroup. To rebuild their playgroup that is falling apart because of defective blocks.”