Campaigners have warned that scores of out-of-school clubs are beingclosed due to a cash shortfall caused by the end of EU funding (ChildrenNow, 1-7 June).
Marguerite Hunter Blair, chief executive of Playboard, said followingthe appointment of Lord Jeff Rooker, the charity had received enquiriesfrom the Government asking it to clarify its figures for keeping schemesopen.
Following his appointment last week, Rooker criticised the closure ofplaygroups, describing the 500,000 needed to prevent thesituation as "chicken feed".
Hunter Blair said she was optimistic about the funding situation, whichhas led to the loss of 1,000 of Northern Ireland's 14,000 after-schoolplaces. She said she would also urge Rooker to tackle child poverty,pointing out that if targets were in place, Northern Ireland would needanother 30,000 after-school places.
Rooker, who is also Northern Ireland's finance minister, plans toestablish and chair a ministerial children and young people's subgroupcommittee.
He also intends to establish a children and young people's forum andplay a key role in implementing the children and young people's strategyfor Northern Ireland, which should be published in October.
