Civil Service Creches

[Tony_1975]

My wife and I have been serching for childcare facilities and found one that was ideal for our needs. Close to home, excellent facilities, reasonable rates. There was loads of spaces available so we took the application form home to fill in. While doing so we noticed a section asking us which Government depertment we worked for. Puzzled, we called back, and were told that the creche was exclusively for the children of civil servants. We would be unable to send our child there, even if we paid "the full amount".
We were directed to another branch, nearby, which was available to the general public, but there was a long waiting list. Also, the fees were almost 25% more expensive.

Questions
1) Why do civil servants need creches exclusively for themselves (Presumably built with taxpayers money)?
2) Why are civil servants getting subsidised childcare?

I'm fukking furious about this.

[Gimpanzee]

Its a blessing in disguise. Do you really want your child spending his/her day playing with swivel chairs, dirty mugs and generally avoiding doing anything productive?. Do you want you child to grow up with a sense of entitlement and always expecting everything to be handed to the on a plate?

As for your questions, why indeed.

[Sailor]

It´s just possible that the CS are better at organising creches than the private sector !!!

[Tony_1975]

It´s just possible that the CS are better at organising creches than the private sector !!!

Easy for them, with our money!

[Verhofstadt]

I blame the unions

How dare they get their employer to provide childccare.

Why can't they just be exploited like the rest of the masses?

[Sailor]

Easy for them, with our money!

I see one thing missing from your post - FACTS. You speculate that the creches were built with taxpayers money and you go on to speculate that they are subsidised. Maybe you will prove to be correct - I don´t know - but would it not be a good idea to get your facts straight before you sound off about something ?

[adamirer]

My son starts in one in august. It was about 200e cheaper than others in the ifsc etc (€854 a month). My understanding is that sites provided by the depts (Marlborough St, Dail and Mount St) were put aside for creche facilities for staff working in town. This is explicity to support the family friendly work practises the Gov wants to promote throughout society. Its a bit much to promote such policies and not implement them themselves.

Companies were then asked to provide tenders for childcare services carried out at those locations provided by the depts, hence they offered more competitive prices. If AIB or whatever did the same thing they'd get a similar result, hence prices look so good - the creche don't have to cover rent of premises.

An employer provides space to allow for family friendly facilities, this should be applauded, and I thought the 'left' were behind such forward thinking???

Tony, good luck finding a suitable creche, I'd hope prices would start dropping as demand begins to drop off due to the unemployment crises and you and family find something that works for you.

[Tony_1975]

I see one thing missing from your post - FACTS. You speculate that the creches were built with taxpayers money and you go on to speculate that they are subsidised. Maybe you will prove to be correct - I don´t know - but would it not be a good idea to get your facts straight before you sound off about something ?

Here you go


"1. I am directed by the Minister for Finance to say that as announced in Budget 2001, the Government has decided to provide for the establishment of childcare facilities for Civil Servants throughout Ireland. As an employer, the Government is committed to creating a working environment which allows staff to balance work and family responsibilities. Accordingly, the Government has allocated £10 million capital for the provision of 15 crèches for the Civil Service over the two year period 2001 - 2002. A sum of £5m has been included in the 2001 estimate for the Office of the Minister for Finance. "

From here
Government of Ireland - Department of Finance - Circular 28/2001: Civil Service Childcare Initiative - Scheme of Capital Grants

Who else did you think was going to finance creches especially for the civil service?

[adamirer]

What I don't get abbout your post is the comment about waiting list... from personal experience I can tell you the CS creches (admittedly in Dublin) are very heavily subscribed... we'd have started earlier than August if we could!

Oh, it was also part of the huge drive to get women back into the workplace in 2000-2001 at a time when staff were coming hard to get. Not that long since people like my mum were forced to leave their state jobs because of the marriage ban... a nice reversal.

[Tony_1975]

My son starts in one in august. It was about 200e cheaper than others in the ifsc etc (€854 a month). My understanding is that sites provided by the depts (Marlborough St, Dail and Mount St) were put aside for creche facilities for staff working in town. This is explicity to support the family friendly work practises the Gov wants to promote throughout society. Its a bit much to promote such policies and not implement them themselves.

Companies were then asked to provide tenders for childcare services carried out at those locations provided by the depts, hence they offered more competitive prices. If AIB or whatever did the same thing they'd get a similar result, hence prices look so good - the creche don't have to cover rent of premises.

An employer provides space to allow for family friendly facilities, this should be applauded, and I thought the 'left' were behind such forward thinking???

Tony, good luck finding a suitable creche, I'd hope prices would start dropping as demand begins to drop off due to the unemployment crises and you and family find something that works for you.

Providing facilities with our money, and then excluding us from use, even though there is plenty of space. How is that forward thinking? It seems beyond absurd.