Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
1009. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the payments to childcare providers; if the payments from his Department will continue following forced closures due to the Covid-19 pandemic; his plans to ensure continued support for the early years sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20874/20]
View answerOn 25 July I announced a package of measures to support the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector as services reopen in late August and early September. This is a substantial investment of just under €300 million in the period from 24 August to the end of the year.
The funding package for the ELC and SAC sector includes three significant elements:
- continuation of all DCYA ELC and SAC subsidy schemes for the 2020/21 programme year at existing capitation and subsidy rates;
- access for Tusla registered providers to the Revenue-operated Employment Wage Support Scheme (EWSS), regardless of turnover;
- a sustainability fund will be accessible to providers (not-for-profit and for-profit) who can demonstrate that the other measures are not sufficient by themselves to enable viable operation of their business.
In addition to this funding package, my Department has introduced, on a temporary basis, added flexibility on attendance rules for programmes, other than ECCE, due to the need for some service providers to stagger drop-off and collection times. This will assist providers to maximise income and reduce costs.
Any individual service which is required to close by public health authorities, due to a confirmed or suspected case of Covid-19 in that service, may apply to my Department for force majeure permission to close as per the rules governing the programmes.
