Ms Amy Carey:

I will respond on the impact of the NCS. The NCS is currently risking the closure of all our after-school projects. The Dublin 8 alliance represents 500 children in the Dublin 8 area but there are over 5,000 children across the country who will lose their after-school supports if urgent action is not taken on this. At present, we are subsidised by the wage subsidy scheme, which is due to end at the end of October. That has been a plaster on the problem and has kept us going for the last year and a half, but there is a risk that we will not be sustainable within the next year or two. All after-school projects will be forced to close if a sustainable model is not put in place.

Regarding the sponsorship, we do not see that as an appropriate or suitable way to provide supports for children. It is a hurdle for parents and is very complex. It adds administrative issues for providers and for the sponsorship bodies. We do not believe it is a suitable way. We are calling for a model to be put in place for communities such as ours whereby all children should have access. It should not just be somebody who is referred. As we said, it should not be that one must have a referral from a social worker to access an after-school service. It should be for all children who are affected by disadvantage.