Ms Frances Byrne:

It is not just the local crèche. We will not go into it now as it would not necessarily be a gender equality issue for this committee, but there are many debates among educators about whether homework is part of school age. There is a lot of strong feeling that it should not be and that it should be time for play. Then of course there are parents and all of that. If it is within schools or attached to schools, it almost becomes an automatic thing. I should not be smiling and laughing, but I am because I am thinking of some of my colleagues when I get out of here and what they are going to say if I do not mention this, so I am mentioning it. It is a very serious point, however, about children and time for play and all that. Again, it has to be part of the debate if we are having a completely child-centred conversation. That was our focus, which is what I hope it will be in this committee. Certainly, it seems to be so far. All the questions have been rooted in that. We have been watching the committee's deliberations. Are schools the best place for after-school and if they are, how are we going to break the day for children so they do not feel they are still in school? That must be part of the debate and the consideration, as well as all the financial, practical and planning issues. We must bring the needs and rights of children to this, and hear their voices and what they think about walking from one building to another.