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Covid-19 Pandemic

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020

Tuesday, 23 June 2020

Questions (772)

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

772. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if it is permitted to take care of the children of other persons in a person's own home at this time; if so, the guidance that has been provided in such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12443/20]

View answer

Written answers

As per HSE guidance and in accordance with the regulations under the Health (Preservation and Protection and Other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2000, childminders who care for the children of essential workers in the children's home were permitted to continue working after childcare facilities were closed on 12 March.

The HSE guidance specifies that at present (until 29th June) childminding should not take place in the carer’s home, in order to avoid households mixing.

Phase 3 of the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which is currently scheduled to begin on 29th June, provides for the opening of childminders (along with the opening of creches and pre-schools) in a phased manner. On 29th May, I announced that childminders will also be able to resume looking after children in the childminder’s home from 29th June, while complying with HPSC advice.

To guide the operation of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare settings - including childminders - after 29th June, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in the HSE has published 'Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Settings Providing Childcare during the COVID-19 Pandemic'. This public health advice was approved by the Expert Advisory Group of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).

In addition, my Department has worked with a range of stakeholder organisations within the sector and with expert advisors to develop a range of guidance resources for providers of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, including childminders. The guidance resources are gathered together on a dedicated webpage: https://first5.gov.ie/practitioners/reopening. The resources includes guidance developed specifically for childminders, in collaboration with Childminding Ireland. The documents that are available for childminders include the following:

- Covid-19 Childminding Guidelines.

- Covid-19 Infection Control Policy for Childminders in Line with HPSC Guidance.

- Childminding Risk Assessment Template.

The First 5 website is continuously being updated with additional resources and information that will support all services, including childminders, on how best to comply with the public health advice while ensuring high quality practice to support children’s well-being, learning and development. The resources have been available to childminders and other providers through Childminding Ireland, City and County Childcare Committees, and other sector organisations.

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