This story was first published on November 9^th, 2004.

The Dublin North West Childcare Resource Centre awarded sixteen local women certified training in childminding on Saturday 30^th October 2004. This training is part of the Quality Awareness Programme training funded by the Dublin City Childcare Committee.

Odkafor Ebere Mercy with her award.	Shirley Heffernan with her award.	Leona Brady with her award.

The two day training programme was free of charge and was delivered by the Irish Pre-School Playgroups Association. The participants of the course were from Ballymun, Glasnevin and Santry. Due to the overwhelming response a further course is planned for Finglas applicants in November.

Lisa Walsh, Manager of the Childcare Resource Centre (extreme left), pictured with all 16 award recipients.

Lisa Walsh, manager of the Childcare Resource Centre, says "We know that many parents and children rely on childminders in the communities of Ballymun, Finglas, Glasnevin North, Santry and Whitehall. We hope that childminders in these areas, including of course, grandmothers, neighbours, sisters, brothers etc, will participate in our childminding training in the future to become qualified in their area of expertise. We also aim to establish a network of childminders in the above areas to support and listen to childminders needs."

For More Information contact: Lisa Walsh Manager Northwest Childcare Resource Centre Ballymun Town Centre Dublin 11 01 582 39522 (office) 087 6230196 (mobile) or e-mail lisawalsh@ballymun.org.