Anne Rabbitte
Ceist:994. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if children will be able to attend crèche multiple days per week in September 2020. [8424/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 3 June 2020
Ceisteanna (994)
Freagraí scríofa
The Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business sets out the plan for re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services. This will be underpinned by the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice, available evidence and consultation with ELC and SAC stakeholder representatives and providers themselves. To support this work, I have convened and chair an Advisory Group, that comprises eight organisations representing the ELC and SAC sector, one representing the childminding sector and a trade union representative. Intensive engagement with this Group has been underway for several weeks now.
On 29 May I received Government support for the initial plans for re-opening ELC and SAC services under Phase 3 (29 June). The plan for re-opening is guided by the detailed public health guidance specific to ELC and SAC services received from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and noted by NPHET.
The phased reopening will seek to meet the needs of parents and guardians who are returning to work, and prioritise the needs of vulnerable children who need ELC and SAC on child welfare grounds.
It is intended that from 29 June, ELC and SAC services will be accessible by:
- Children of health and social care workers, other frontline workers, early ELC and SAC practitioners themselves, and parents who need access to ELC and SAC in order to return to work. In the first instance, places will be available to families from these categories who previously used the ELC and SAC services.
- Vulnerable children, including children sponsored under the National Childcare Scheme (for example, children in the protection process and children who are homeless) along with children funded through legacy ELC and SAC funding schemes who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage or child welfare issues.
- Children with disabilities, including those preparing to start school in September.
- Other children previously registered in ELC and SAC services on March 12, whose parents continue to need ELC and SAC and who were assured that they would retain their place through conditions attached to the DCYA Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme.
- Subject to local availability of places, children who did not previously use early ELC and SAC services and whose parents are now seeking a place.
Detailed planning and costing of proposals is ongoing to provide a sustainable and viable funding model which can be applied for the initial phase of reopening of ELC and SAC services, through to operating at full capacity. Working with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I will revert to Government for a decision when this work is advanced.
I am very conscious of the importance of ELC and SAC for children’s positive development and in terms of supporting the economy as we move beyond this crisis. The approach to resuming ELC and SAC programmes, including ECCE, will need to be an iterative one. Further consideration will be required on these issues as reopening progresses beyond 29 June and the response by both providers and parents becomes clearer, but it is my hope that children will be able to attend full-time or part-time depending on their family requirements. The situation remains under review and I will revert to the Deputy once further information is available.