A group of parents living in Stoneybatter in Dublin staged a protest today against the closure of the local Rainbow Community Playgroup.

The service provides morning and evening early education services, with evening services set to wrap up next week.

One parent attending the protest told Lunchtime Live that just over a weeks' notice of the closure had been given.

“A couple of days ago we received a letter through our letterbox explaining to us that our child’s afternoon play group was to be wound up on the 7th of February,” Mark Sheeran told the show.

“We haven’t received any explanation around it, only that it was a decision that the management board of Rainbow Playgroup hadn’t taken lightly.

“So, obviously this has put us in a really awkward situation because, like other parents in the group, we’ve structured our childcare around that afternoon playgroup.

“Now we’re struggling to find alternatives at extremely short notice - we’re both working parents and this is a very stressful situation for us.”

Childcare issues, © PA Wire/PA Images

According to Mr Sheeran, the services appear to have been reduced due to staff hours being “cut in half”.

He said that the group is administered funding by Pobal and the rent is covered by Dublin City Council (DCC).

“We’re asking for some transparency and [to] at least have a conversation with the board of management because the morning service is continuing,” Mr Sheeran said.

“The building is rented from DCC, the rent is paid up to the end of the year, so we just really don’t understand.”

'It's such a valuable resource'

Local parent Lorna Melody said that her daughter “really needs” the service, as she has special needs.

“We worked really hard to settle her in, she’s doing really well, the teachers are brilliant – we're just so upset to lose it,” she said.

“It’s such a valuable resource and it’s so needed.

“The children are having rugs pulled out from under them and so are we as parents.

“I’d just like to make the point that if you were told you child’s primary school or secondary school was closing next week, you’d be shocked and it wouldn’t be allowed to happen – but unfortunately early years education just doesn’t have the same protections.”

Mr Sheeran said this is the third early childhood service to close in the Stoneybatter area.

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Main image: Rainbow Community Playgroup. Image via Google Images.