The new Crèche Cois Laoi building at University College Cork (UCC) which was officially opened today (26 May 2006) by Micheál Martin, TD, Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment, is a very significant milestone in the university’s development and in its enhancement of quality support services for students and staff.
The crèche was built at a cost of €1.4 million and is one of the largest university based crèches in the country.It represents one of the most significant childcare investments in the Third Level Sector in recent years.
The crèche is located at the new Brookfield Health Sciences Complex on College Road and accommodates up to 80 children. Designed by the architects RKD, Crèche Cois Laoi is a two-storey building, located at the north-east corner of the Brookfield site. It is situated in a low lying area adjacent to the River Lee – the reason why it was named Crèche Cois Laoi. The site was chosen because of its quiet location with the building nestling in an area of woodland.
Crèche Cois Laoi is managed by Áras na Mac Léinn, Student Centre, UCC and provides a nursery, two sleep rooms, two toddler rooms, two Montessori rooms, a Naíonra, an after-school room, two outside play areas, a dining room as well as a special sensory room to cater for children who may have additional needs.
The crèche was jointly funded by the UCC and the Government under the Equal Opportunities Programme (EOCP 2000-2006) and part financed by the European Union Structural Funds under the National Plan 2000-2006.
UCC President, Professor Gerard Wrixon said “The new crèche is a valuable resource to UCC and assists the University to support students with childcare needs by providing a quality crèche service. As UCC strives to increase the number of students from under-represented groups – students with disability, international students, mature students and students from socio- economically disadvantaged backgrounds, it recognised that affordable and available childcare was one of the key factors in providing support.”Professor Wrixon added that the new crèche was the latest in a range of major capital projects being undertaken by UCC to create a world-class institution.
During the opening ceremony the importance of this new facility was acknowledged by Minister Martin.
UCC is currently the Sunday Times ‘Irish University of the Year’ and received this award, in part, because of the university’s record in infrastructural development.
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