UU to push through crècheclosure without full EQIA

Universities Minister Dr Stephen Farry said officials contacted the University of Ulster and it said a screening exercise was conducted under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland act 1998.

Whilst Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Anne Moran, screened the proposal - it is out for consultation until August - the University will not carry out an EQIA. It did carry out an EQIA on childcare proposals in 2009. This kept nurseries at Jordanstown and Magee but put them “under new operational and contractural arrangements, which are more closely aligned to those of private operators and which should enable the Day Nurseries to break even.”

Now the University claims the units don’t fulfill their purpose, namely “cater for student parents.” Only 23 per cent of Magee users were students last year. It also says the nursery is not financially viable despite the collective annual deficit of the two nurseries has been reducing.

It believes it can go ahead and change the policy without carrying out an EQIA because the changes will have only a ‘minor impact’ rather than a ‘major impact’ on young female students who are single parents and female staff, in particular. The University promises to help support student and staff parents and to ensure “policies and procedures are implemented effectively to assist employees working in the day nurseries to be redeployed/re-employed.

“The posts will be made redundant with incumbents placed on the University’s re-deployment register for six months. The Unviersity will also endeavour to provide appropriate training for staff to assist them in seeking alternative employment.”