THE STUDENTS' UNION in DCU claims that the university creche may close early next year because it does not meet new guidelines for such facilities. Other colleges may also be put under pressure to improve creches - or close them.
According to the DCU union, the creche, which is in a prefab building, will have to close in the new year because the structure does not meet requirements of forthcoming regulations. Under the 1991 Childcare Act, which is also in line with EU regulations, there are requirements relating to heating, ventilation, cleanliness, repair and maintenance of the facilities in which pre-school services are provided.
Most third-level colleges are still without on-campus creche facilities. In the RTC sector, Athlone provides a £15 weekly subsidy for placing children in a local creche, while Letterkenny has its own subsidised creche off-campus. A number of colleges operate childcare funds.
The Department of Health is currently accepting submissions on the issue, with a deadline of November 29th, and the new regulations are expected to be in place before the end of the year.
The authorities at DCU deny that the creche is to close. According 19 a spokesman, discussions are ongoing and some changes may be necessary, but there is "no intention to close down the creche".
The students' union says that there is no way the university can meet the guidelines in the time available, and has accused the university of failing to get its priorities right on the issue. "The problem with the regulations is that our creche does not match up to them," DCU students' union president Ciara Fitzpatrick says. Instead of trying to match up, the college could allow the creche to close, she says.
The college has found the funds to widen the Ballymun Road entrance to the college and to build an ornamental terrace in the grounds, she says. "They're all lovely if you've got the cash, but if they can't fund something as fundamental as a creche then there's something seriously wrong with their priorities."
The union has been critical of the existing creche for some time: only three of its 30 places are set aside for students, at a cost of £50 per week. It is calling on the college to provide a purpose-built creche at a cost of £160,000 to £220,000 and to subsidise student places in it.
While no final decision has been made, the creche will clearly fail to meet the new guidelines when they come into force. As one staff member commented: "It won't be the college that closes the creche, it will be the health board."
Helen Ryan, USI's welfare officer, says that the national union will be making a submission to the Department of Health on the creche legislation. USI is likely to seek an assurance that resources will be provided to ensure creches can be inspected and the legislation enforced. It may also seek a period of grace after the legislation is introduced.
"A positive way of looking at the legislation is that colleges setting a creche up will now have to do so according to the guidelines, and those which already have creches will have to bring them into line with the requirements," Ryan says.
