Ireland

Compare this little story to the multi billion dollar schemes of other places.

Thursday, March 02, 2006 Child Care Centre to locate in former Friends Meeting House TRAMORE Development Trust Ltd is pleased to announce the commencement of a significant project in Tramore to refurbish the former Friends Meeting House as a community facility with a Child Care Centre incorporating an After Schools Service.

There will also be a pre-school service which will be available for children with special needs.
This project has received Capital Community Based Grant Assistance under the Equal Opportunities Child-care Programme within the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The grants amount to •490,277 and •93,444, giving a total amount of •583,721 and are administered with the assistance of An Pobol, formerly ADM.

This project would not have been possible without the tremendous generosity of the Society of Friends in handing over the building to Tramore Development Trust for a period of 25 years in 2003.

It has since taken three years concentrated work to bring the project to its current stage.
Building work is expected to commence in mid March with an eight month building programme and subsequent fitting out period.

It is expected that the building will be operational early 2007.

The Meeting House in Tramore was constructed in1868 and is an important element in the architectural landscape of Tramore.

The building has had little or no changes internally or externally since its initial construction and the intention of Tramore Development Trust is to carry out a sensitive conservation of the building, respectful of its nature and character while at the same time bringing the accommodation up to contemporary standards.

Within the existing building, the Meeting Rooms are on the ground floor but because the site is steeply sloping there is a lower floor, which was never completed.

The intention is to restore both floors incorporating study / library, arts and crafts room, computer room, kitchen, meeting / activity rooms, and office / admin.

Access for disabled persons will be an important element of the restoration with the integration of a disabled access lift to link floors and disabled access toilets.

Tramore Development Trust is an independent voluntary community group and is a registered charity.