Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 June 2020
935. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department will provide return to work training for employees of crèches and early learning facilities in advance of the reopening of the sector. [11633/20]
View answerOn Friday 5 June, I launched a range of online resources and guidance to support service providers, practitioners and parents to prepare for the reopening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare settings, including childminders. The Guidance for Reopening webpage is available on the First 5 website.
As Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare services are private businesses, the training of staff and preparation for returning to work are primarily matters for the service provider as the employer. My Department has been engaging intensively with a number of organisations representing the childcare sector, through an Advisory Group on Reopening, to ensure appropriate supports are in place to assist the sector in their preparations.
The Guidance for Reopening webpage, developed with the assistance of the Advisory Group, includes health guidance (published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre), regulatory guidance and practice supports. It also includes a COVID-19 Setting Preparation Plan, developed by Early Childhood Ireland, which details the policies and practices required for the service provider to comply with the Government's "Return to Work Safely Protocol" and to minimise the risk of spread of COVID-19 in their setting.
Online training resources are also being made available on the "Continuing Professional Development Resources for Practitioners" webpage on the First 5 website.
Both webpages will be updated over the coming weeks with more resources and practice examples.
