Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 June 2020
605. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is seeking for childcare providers and staff to be deemed as essential workers in order that they can plan and prepare for the reopening of services on 29 June 2020; if she has raised this issue with her Ministerial colleagues; when she expects childcare workers to be included on the essential workers list; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9898/20]
View answerOn 27th May, my Department contacted all early learning and care and school-age childcare service providers to inform them that both the Department of An Taoiseach and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs recognise and accept that essential preparations by service providers and their staff will include the necessity to travel to and enter childcare facilities in order to make the facilities ready for operation, and that this work may commence immediately at the discretion of providers.
Travel to and entering of childcare facilities for the preparations to reopen is considered essential work which will be a key part of the steps to achieve a phased reopening of the sector from 29 June.
