Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 May 2020
868. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when childminders will be able to recommence providing services to parents that are healthcare workers, essential workers and all parents in their own homes and in the home of the child. [7608/20]
View answer869. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if guidelines have been created to support childminders reopening their services following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7610/20]
View answer870. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if financial supports will be made available to childminders for the purpose purchasing PPE material. [7615/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 868 to 870, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy is aware, at present the public health guidance issued by the HSE is that childminding should only take place in the child's home, not in a childminder's home. This is to avoid households mixing, and is important as part of the stay at home measures.
On 1 May the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services, which includes childminding, will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice, available evidence and consultation with ELC and SAC stakeholder representatives.
The Roadmap proposes the gradual re-opening of ELC/SAC services as follows:
- Phase 3 (29 June), opening of crèches, childminders and preschools for children of essential workers in a phased manner with social distancing and other requirements applying.
- Phase 4 (20 July), opening of crèches, childminders and preschools for children of all other workers on a gradually increasing phased basis and slowly increasing thereafter.
My Department is currently developing proposals for the different phases of reopening in line with the Roadmap. This is complex work and must balance a number of important issues.
I am actively engaging with key stakeholders in the sector to make sure that the work on re-opening services is informed by the practical constraints that services - including childminders - face. I have established and chair an Advisory Group that includes membership from across the sector, specifically the Association of Childhood Professionals, Childminding Ireland, Early Childhood Ireland, the National Childhood Network, the National Forum for Community Childcare Services, PLÉ, Pobal, Seas Seas and SIPTU, as well as Pobal and Tusla.
Officials in my Department are currently liaising with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in relation to advice on infection prevention and control, including the use of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), by childcare providers. Public health guidance on these matters will be shared with childcare providers at the earliest opportunity.
