Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1411. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with his Department or the Department of Education to explore any potential solutions to the issues facing a community pre-school (details supplied) in Dublin. [41709/22]
View answer1412. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will engage with the stakeholders involved to explore solutions to ensure the retention of community pre-school services (details supplied) in Dublin.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41710/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1411 and 1412 together.
Dublin CCC has been working closely with the service concerned to identify alternative arrangements for the families affected by this closure. Unfortunately, given the pressures on the private rental market it is not be possible to secure alternative premises. Both the provider and the CCC are continuing to work with parents to secure alternative placements for families.
My Department has engaged with the Department of Education to help identify ELC/SAC services on school grounds which could be affected by such changes of use.
Given that ELC and SAC services are provided by private enterprises, the Department is not involved in decisions around the day to day running of such services and any decision to close is ultimately a matter for the service provider and, in this case, the building owner.
The Department of Education Guidelines on the use of School Buildings Outside of School Hours guide schools in the use of school facilities for other services, including early learning and childcare services. The Guidelines are clear that the issue is a matter for the property owners taking into consideration the needs of the school, staff and students. The Guidelines also require that any licence should include a term that the use of facility/portion of site covered by the licence must cease should it be required for school provision.
The Department of Education is in the process of updating these Guidelines and has engaged with the Department of Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on this work.
My Department will continue to engage with CCCs and relevant stakeholders, within existing structures, to help them provide support to services and to ensure that parents have access to childcare provision.
