The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr Katherine Zappone, will see
a range of projects supported by her Department during a visit to Ennis, Co
Clare, tomorrow (Friday 22nd Sept 2017).
During the visit there will be a number of media engagements.
10.00am View Tusla’s National Child Care Information System (CCIS),
River House, Gort Road, Ennis
10.50am Visit Clare Co Childcare Committee Office, 1 Kilrush Road,
Ennis
12.00 Visit Clare Family Resource Centre & Crech, Watery Road,
Ennis
12.45pm Town Walkabout with Dr Michael Harty T.D.
2.00pm Launch Art Exhibition to Celebrate 10 Years of Youth Art
Project, Glór, Ennis
3.00pm Launch Clare Youth Service/McAfee Digital Engagement
Guidelines, Clare Youth Service, Carmody Street, Ennis
Speaking ahead of the visit Minister Zappone said:
“My mission is to support, protect and care for children and their
families. Ennis is at the forefront of that goal.
I look forward to seeing at first-hand how the €4m provided this year to
the National Child Care Information System is being used to support the
work of social workers on the ground, not just in Clare but across the
country.
Over the past two years more than €8.5m has been provided to support
crèches, pre-schools and childcare centres in Clare for extra spaces,
building work and to improve quality. This paved the way for the extra
family supports which started three weeks ago. Now I have an opportunity
to hear from local providers about the impact on the ground.
Sports, arts and culture are vibrant in Clare. We support the participation
of young people in community activities with funding of €450,000 per year.
It will be my honour to launch the 10th anniversary exhibition of ‘Heart to
Art’ with pieces from young people in Kilrush. The exhibition at Glór is
the result of a programme which supports and helps local young people to
boost their health and wellbeing.
This is an important time as preparations continue towards Budget 2018. The
views I will hear in Clare will help inform my preparations.”