I propose to take Questions Nos. 990, 996 and 1002 together.
On Friday 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 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 that the reopening of crèches, childminders and preschools in a phased manner will begin in Phase 3, which is currently scheduled to begin on 29 June. Last Friday, 29 May, I announced which children would be eligible to resume full or part-time childcare services from 29 June. Whilst initially the Government Roadmap had indicated that services would resume only for the children of essential workers, this has now been widened.
Subject to local capacity, from 29 June services are encouraged to support:
- children of health and social care workers, other frontline workers, childcare practitioners and parents who need access to childcare in order to return to work;
- vulnerable children sponsored under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) (for example, children whose families are homeless and Tusla referrals) and children funded through legacy childcare schemes who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage or child welfare issues;
- children with disabilities who previously attended part or full-time early learning and care, including those preparing to start school in September; and
- children previously registered in childcare services on March 12, whose parents continue to need childcare for employment or training purposes and who were assured that they would retain their place through conditions attached to my Department’s Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS).
In the best interests of the child and parents, children should, as far as possible, be enabled to return to the childcare service they attended Pre-Covid19. Given the changed model of interaction and the time lapse since the child last attended, it is important that further unfamiliar elements are not introduced to the child at this point.
If local capacity issues emerge, services will be asked to give priority to the children of frontline workers.
Childminders may also resume caring for children in the childminder’s home from 29 June.
Service providers and parents are encouraged to make early contact with each other so that the level of demand and supply for places from 29 June can be known.