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Childcare Services

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2020

Tuesday, 30 June 2020

Questions (751, 760, 762)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

751. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if school age children are permitted in day care and Montessori facilities from 29 June 2020. [12753/20]

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Marc MacSharry

Question:

760. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if crèches can reopen their afterschool facilities; the guidance issued to them on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13080/20]

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Marc MacSharry

Question:

762. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will consider the concerns raised by a healthcare worker that cannot access childcare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13082/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 751, 760 and 762 together.

The Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business allows for the phased reopening of both Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services from 29 June.

On Friday 5 June, my Department published 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: https://first5.gov.ie/practitioners/reopening

As with services for pre-school children, school-age childcare services may reopen from 29 June. There is nothing in the Government Roadmap or in the guidance provided by my Department that limits services to reopen for children under the age of six only.

The resources available on the First 5 website include guidance to help support providers in managing allocation of places when services reopen where demand for places is greater than the capacity within a service. Where possible it is proposed that children should be enabled to return to the service they used pre-COVID-19.

On 10 June a major funding package was announced to facilitate the reopening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services from 29 June. This funding includes capital and reopening grants to support services reopening over the summer. All DCYA subsidy schemes will resume, as may the charging of fees to privately paying parents.

It must be noted that my Department is not the owner/employer of school-age childcare services; they are private businesses and specific decisions on whether, when and how to reopen are a matter for the individual service provider.

Parents are encouraged to discuss any concerns they may have with their service provider.

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