She has entered the job at an exciting yet crucial period for thesector.
Playboard is to be one of the main partners in developing a nationalplay policy and the Government has just announced 50m in fundingfor early years over two years. Meanwhile a long-awaited strategy forchildren and young people - Making it r wrld 2 - is nearingcompletion.
O'Loughlin is keen for the play sector's voice to be heard in this,particularly when it comes to plans for extended schools. While serviceson school sites might work in England, the same system used in NorthernIreland could entrench segregation and sectarianism, she explains.
"Children in Northern Ireland are segregated in where they go to schooland live, where they play and who they play with," she says.
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