Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
1069. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the supports and guidance in place for providers of early years services to facilitate the safe reopening and operation during the Covid-19 period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14178/21]
View answerIn January, early learning and childcare services were restricted to children of essential workers and vulnerable children only, and the ECCE Programme was suspended. As part of a careful and cautious reopening of priority sectors of society and the economy, these services have now begun to open for other groups of children throughout March on a phased basis.
The ECCE Programme resumed for all participating children from 8 March. Subject to public health advice, other restrictions on access to ELC/SAC services, will be lifted on 29 March so that all other children can return to services.
My Department is committed to supporting services to operate safely. The current advice from the HSE is that no change is required to the Infection Prevention and Control guidance for services providing ELC during the pandemic. Services have been following this guidance effectively and it has helped to minimise risk of spread of infection within services. This will be kept under review and the impact of the return of services and schools will be monitored closely over the coming weeks.
A package of funding measures are in place to support the phased reopening. From 8 March, there was a return to normal funding arrangements for Department schemes. A COVID-19 Operating Support Payment (COSP) introduced in February has been extended until 26 March for eligible services. This will help to offset loss of parental fees for services which are highly reliant on private income. Services will continue to be eligible for the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) at enhanced rates and are exempt from the turnover rule. The EWSS has been extended until the end of June.
In addition, a COVID-19 Impact Support has been introduced as part of the DCEDIY Sustainability Fund. Where a service has sustainability concerns as a result of the current restrictions, additional supports may be made available under this fund.
All measures taken in response to COVID-19 are under ongoing review by my Department, and should the public health advice change, our response will reflect that.
Detailed guidance for services, including FAQs can be found at: https://first5.gov.ie/guidance
