Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My issue with this, which I have raised previously, relates to after-school and children who are being shut out of that scheme. A whole cohort of children is falling through the cracks. I thought that there was a commitment given to review the scheme last year. A parent working outside the home or in education can avail of this but we should be looking at the needs of children. When we talk about childcare people automatically think about fees and parents but we need to think about what is best for children. There are children whose parents are not working outside the home who are at very high risk and very vulnerable. They may not be in the Tusla system or brought to its attention because things may not be that bad but they rely on childcare service for hot meals for a safe and secure place, to help them and maybe bring them on to a homework club or other supports. Those children are very limited under this scheme. I see the point the Minister is making around medical cards but these children are falling through the cracks. There will be difficulties about that in the future so we need to deal with this now.

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