CHILDCARE CENTRE FOR ADDICTS' CHILDREN OPPOSED

Residents of Kimmage, Dublin, have appealed to An Bord Pleanala a decision
to grant planning permission to a childcare centre for the children of
recovering heroin addicts.

The proposal to create the centre in a derelict building owned by Dublin
Corporation on Lower Kimmage Road received planning permission from the
corporation at the end of February.

The proposed Petals Childcare Centre will run a day care service for 15
pre-school children and an after-schools programme for 10 school children
of addicts undergoing rehabilitation programmes from neighbouring Crumlin.

The centre is being proposed by Addiction Response Crumlin (ARC), a local
community organisation, and is being funded by the Dublin 12 Drugs Task Force.

Five residents' associations and a local action group objected to the
centre and following the granting of planning permission, two appeals were
lodged. In a joint appeal, Mr Bernard Tumelty, chairman of the Hazelbrook
Residents' Association, and Mr John Millett of the 355 Kimmage Road Action
Group, said the size of the proposed development, involving an extension,
was "grossly in excess of the requirements of a creche" and wondered as to
"its true purpose".

The Poddle Park Residents' Association appealed the decision on the grounds
of the "adverse social and community effects" of the development. It also
objected to the use of a locked private laneway used by residents as a
parking facility for the centre, saying it would "seriously compromise the
security" of the nearby houses.

Ms Susan Collins, co-ordinator of ARC, said the centre was needed to
provide a stable environment for the children. "The centre is also needed
to help the parents who are addicts get their lives back together and break
the cycle of addiction in families.

"There will not be drugs or drug dealers hanging around. This centre is
solely for children." Mr Sean Moloney, of Dublin Corporation housing
department, said that under the planning permission conditions the centre
"must be used solely as a creche and day care centre".

A spokeswoman for An Bord Pleanala said a decision would be made before
July 21st.