Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 5 October 2021

Joint Committee On Children, Equality, Disability, Integration And Youth

Regulation and Funding Issues Facing Workers in the Early Years Sector: Discussion

Ms Gillian O'Connor:

I will reiterate that from our point of view, after-schools are not childcare. They are an equality measure aimed at reducing the gap of educational disadvantage and we do not believe that children should need referral to go to their community centre or into their after-school club, or sponsorship to play with their friends, do their homework or to be able to develop and reach their potential.