TD calls for urgent action as Kilkenny after-school service set to close

Sinn Fein TD for Carlow Kilkenny Natasha Newsome Drennan has called on the new Minister for Children, Disability and Equality Norma Foley to prioritise what she says is the alarming decline in vital after-school services throughout Carlow and Kilkenny.

Deputy Newsome Drennan was speaking following a number of calls from distressed parents concerned their after-school service is to cease operating in the Castlecomer area from this September.

“I have been contacted by a number of parents in the past week extremely concerned that they will have to give up work as a means to manage their childcare. One women spoke of the stress of trying to manage work, and now find childcare for her children in an area where places are few and far between,” she said.

“The closure of this service leaves that area, with a large urban/ rural population with little to no access to after-school.
“It is vital Minister Foley prioritises the lack of SAC services (after-school) in rural areas. I am concerned childcare was simply given lip service in the Programme for Government. My colleague, Claire Kerrane TD and Sinn Fein spokesperson on Children, slammed the new government for their lack of vision in building the much needed capacity in the sector.

“This closure is part of a larger problem that impacts parents, and in particular single parents who heavily rely on their childcare services. Rural Ireland is haemorrhaging services, it is vital the new Minister sets out a clear plan to move towards a public model of funding as promised during the recent election.

“The government mustn’t spend the next few years simply plastering up problems, we need to see a real plan for the sector; professionals working in the sector, owner/operators, parents and crucially children deserve it.”
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