New Government rules will shut down school homework clubs: Kilkenny TD

By COLIN BARTLEY

HOMEWORK and breakfast clubs in Kilkenny schools could be at risk due to new rules the Government is seeking to impose.

New regulations on compliance reports and audits on community-managed and operated childcare providers could result in these costs doubling.

Kilkenny TD Bobby Aylward believes an increase of this scale would be unsustainable for these before and after school services.

“These regulations require new staff ratios that are essentially double what most providers are operating at, and this will have a serious impact on the cost base of services,” the Fianna Fáil TD said today.

“Many of these school aged childcare services take place in national schools, allowing kids to do their homework and chat with their friends. Some schools even offer breakfast clubs before school to facilitate parents who need to leave for work early in the morning.”

Deputy Aylward criticised Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone for trying to enforce the new measures without consulting the service providers, such as Carlow Kilkenny Community Childcare Forum, who have been to the fore of this issue.

He added: “The fact that neither the providers nor the parents have been consulted is astounding.”