Mayo childcare facility gets major grant boost 

Glor na nÓg in Aghamore has been awarded a grant of €245,000. This will enable the childcare facility to expand and offer more childcare places for children aged 1-3 years.

“Parents are crying out for accessible, reliable childcare and this is very welcome news for Glór na nÓg in Aghamore,” said Mayo TD, Keira Keogh. “However, we need to go further and have communities throughout Mayo benefit from funding like this in order to provide the support that children and families across the county need and deserve.”

READ MORE: Eir apologises to Mayo residents after taking more than 100 days to fix telephone pole

The Westport TD has welcomed a €25 million national investment in early learning and childcare places nationally announced by Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, under the Building Blocks Extension Scheme. However, the Mayo TD has called for greater investment in the west, saying that while the funding is a step forward, “Mayo needs more.”

A total of 49 services across Ireland were shortlisted following assessments by the Office of Public Works and Pobal. Funded providers will be required to maintain their services as Core Funding Partner Services for up to 17 years, ensuring long-term benefits from the investment.

Deputy Keogh, who chairs the Oireachtas Children and Equality Committee and has a background as a behaviour consultant, emphasised the significance of early intervention.

“This investment is about more than buildings, it’s about giving every child the best start in life,” she said. “There is an urgent need for greater investment in Mayo. I’m seeing parents from every part of the county on waiting lists and struggling to access childcare – this needs to be addressed.”

READ MORE: Former Mayo pub to be turned into a gardening training centre

The scheme is part of the wider Building Blocks Capital Programme for Early Learning and Childcare, under the National Development Plan, following similar investment initiatives in 2023 and 2024.

Deputy Keogh concluded with a call for continued focus on rural communities: “This is a future-focused investment that not only supports children but helps parents re-enter the workforce, reduces waiting lists, and strengthens rural communities. I will continue to advocate for more funding and support for Mayo families.”