Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the witnesses.

It is so important that we examine this and address it. In my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny, I work with after-school groups that each year do not know what funding they will get. It becomes an issue because funding is not guaranteed year to year. The DEIS model in disadvantaged areas was raised earlier. That needs to be a priority. It is not prioritised enough, which is unacceptable. I know of parents who send their children to schools where there are school meal programmes because they are finding it so hard to survive. That is what will happen. There are schools that do not have DEIS status and there are other schools that have free meals. Parents are sending their children to certain schools purely because they have free meals. That is the society we are living in.

Poverty during childhood has both short and long-term negative effects and is associated with the worst outcomes in regard to almost all key aspects of a child's life. The OECD has noted that the pandemic has harmed children's health and social and material well-being, with the poorest children suffering the most. Area-based childhood programmes and targeted supports are needed. I accept they are a priority in the national development plan, the review of which was launched yesterday, but we need to ensure this will happen. Will our guests tell us more about how these targeted programmes disappeared with the formation of the NCS? That issue was raised with me.

Ireland signed up to the European child guarantee in June 2021, which aims to prevent and combat child poverty and social exclusion in the EU. In supporting new types of childcare, do we need to focus more on community-based co-operatives, employer-led schemes and co-location? As Deputies, we are all aware of this issue. On many occasions, families have told me how much they appreciate the homework clubs and the after-school services. They are so important. We cannot end up losing after-school services or homework clubs because of a lack of funding. Funding is the biggest issue. It all boils down to funding but it is also about ensuring that for the children who are marginalised and suffering the most, we will keep the schemes going. They are there for the children but also for the parents.

I thank our guests for their contributions. They have been excellent.