Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
750. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if guidance will be provided to childcare providers that wish to make structural amendments or additions to their premises to meet Covid-19 health guidelines; and if these providers will need to reapply for fire certificates and planning permission. [11750/20]
View answerMy Department has published detailed guidance for early learning and care and school-age childcare providers to facilitate the safe reopening of services in line with public health advice. This guidance is available at the Guidance for Reopening webpage available on the First 5 website (https://first5.gov.ie/practitioners/reopening). Tusla has also issued guidance and a self-assessment tool to all registered early years providers to assist with their planning for reopening. This is guidance is available on the Tusla website at https://www.tusla.ie/services/family-community-support/pre-school-services/ and on the First 5 website.
When planning for the reopening of services, it is a matter for each registered provider, within the context of their specific service provision, to determine whether structural amendments to their premises are required in order to meet the on-going public health requirements. It is anticipated however, that any alterations for the purpose of meeting COVID-19 requirements may be limited to the use of temporary, demountable partitions in existing spaces, where necessary.
It is a matter for the registered provider involved to ensure that any changes such as adding to the premises are not undertaken in contravention of their existing fire and planning restrictions, and to apply to the relevant authorities for the necessary permissions if required. From a regulatory perspective, any changes involving a structural or material alteration to premises may also require an application for a proposed change in circumstances to Tusla, and any such application must be undertaken on the basis that the proposed changes are in line with the service's existing fire and planning restrictions.
