A Dhaoine Uaisle,

Tá áthas orm a bheith anseo inniu chun saoráid cúraim leanaí Naíonraí Áine anseo i dTrá Lí a oscailt go foirmeálta. Tógadh an áit seo go speisialta mar Réamhscoil agus níl aon dabht orm ach go mbeidh ana-thionchar ag an áit ar fhorbairt agus ar fhorás na ndaoine óga a thagann anseo gach lá.

Tá oideachas réamhscoile á chur ar fáil ag Anne O’Dowd le blianta fada anois agus ba mhaith liom í a mholadh as an obair a dhein sí féin agus an fhoireann aici thar na blianta. Tháinig forás agus forbairt ar an tigh seo chomh maith le himeacht ama chun freagairt ar an tslí ab fhearr ab fhéidir do riachtanais na leanaí a bhí faoina cúram. Tá mé cinnte go leanfaidh an obair mhaith agus an dúthracht sna blianta atá romhainn.

I am delighted to be with you today to formally open Naonraí Áine childcare facility here in Tralee. This purpose built pre-school will no doubt make a difference to the growth and development of the very young people who come here every day.

Anne O’Dowd has been providing pre-school education for many years now and I would like to commend her for the work she and her staff have put in over the years. These premises have also grown and developed along the way to respond in the best possible way to the needs of the children in her care.

Children are at the heart of any community and their wellbeing is central to all our lives. Every parent wants to know that their child is well cared for and receiving the best encouragement and stimulation suited to their stage of development. A quality facility such as this and a caring professional staff are the key requirements to respond fully to the needs of children and their parents.

When Anne started her first pre school facility here in 1991 she had ten 3 year olds. That grew into twenty in 1996 and she developed a special unit at the back of her home. This new development can now cater for over 35 pre school pupils. By extending this building so close to her home Anne has maintained the homely environment which no doubt makes a difference to the young pupils and indeed their parents.

This is a pre-school facility of the highest standards and an application was submitted for a grant to construct a purpose built childcare centre. This development received a government grant through Pobal of €100,000 in 2008 and Anne put in her own funding of €33,000. The building was extended and now there are two special rooms for the children.

A special after school facility is also being set up for children up to 12 years old. This will include children with special needs. And a total of twenty pupils will be catered for after school each day.

The grant aid enabled a special safety surface to be used to ensure the children can play and develop in safe surroundings. The indoor play area is very important and a purpose built ball-pool area and a sensory room was developed which are of particular help to children with special needs.

Links are established with Enable Ireland and the Brothers of Charity to ensure best practice is in place and every assistance is availed of to give the best professional response to children and their needs.

I would like to commend Anne O’Dowd and her certified staff of three who give a quality service to the young children in their care. It would be remiss of me if I didn’t also take the opportunity to mention the parents who are key people in all of this. Parents ensure that their children are given the best opportunity at this very important stage in their young lives and they also help to make a centre such as this a great success.

I wish you continuing success in this important work.

Thank You