Approximately 150 people from the greater Keadue area attended last night’s public meeting which was called to save St Asicus Day Care Centre.
The meeting was organised by family members of those who attended the facility and among the attendees were local TDs, Councillors and Community Activists from throughout the county, however no members of the current St Asicus Day Care Centre Board were in attendance.
Attendees at the meeting were informed that Pobal, the government body which had pulled funding for the facility, had been trying to work with the existing St Asicus Day Care Centre Board and had advised them as far back as December 15th that funding would be discontinued with the current programme ended. This news was greeted with surprise by many of those in attendance who were shocked that the issue was kept out of the public domain until news broke on February 23rd that the Centre would have to close on March 31st due to lack of funding. Calls to remove the current St Asicus Day Care Centre Board immediately were greeted with applause however it was decided to meet with Pobal and to seek advice on how best to proceed.
Another revelation came from a former Manager at the Centre who informed attendees that she had to leave the position due to bullying and harassment while a letter was read out from another Manager stating that she bullied and harassed and had to take action against the Board. In addition a former Board Member told how he stood down from the Board as he didn’t like “what was going on” at the Centre.
Speaking at the meeting Denis Naughten TD explained that he had been speaking to Pobal in recent days and they agreed to meet with representatives of the affected family and users of the Day Care Centre. After lively discussion on how best to proceed it was agreed that Denis Naughten TD, Eugene Murphy TD and local Councillor Rachel Doherty would accompany representatives of the families to the meeting with Pobal to discuss how funding could be restored.