Written Answers Nos. 979-1003
979. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the financial support that will be put in place to ensure that the rural bus link services will remain in operation post Covid-19. [9550/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public transport services nationally. It also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme, which now operates under the 'Local Link' brand.
The Government has been clear that continued operation of the public transport sector, including Local Link services, is important, and has designated it amongst the essential services that have carried on during the Covid-19 health emergency. I would like to thank the Local Link Offices, the bus operators and the staff of both in continuing this essential service.
The sharp decline in passenger numbers since mid-March as a result of the Covid-19 emergency has caused an unprecedented fall in fare revenues across all public transport, thus creating a wide gap between operators' costs and actual revenues. This is putting pressure on the existing public service obligation budget (PSO), including for Local Link.
Public transport is an essential service and an important facilitator of the Government's Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. I have been clear that we will ensure that PSO is appropriately funded. To that end my Department is working closely with the NTA to quantify the additional PSO funding requirements for the coming months, including for Local Link services, and we are engaging positively with relevant colleagues across Government in that respect.
981. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the need to include County Wexford will be examined in a programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9587/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn line with Action 89 of the Climate Action Plan 2019, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has established a 'Park and Ride Development Office' and I understand initial scoping of studies, corridor analysis and design works have commenced and are on-going.
Noting the NTA's responsibilities on the matter I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
983. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of driver tests conducted, cancelled or rescheduled during the period January to May 2020 inclusive; the phase of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business in which it is envisaged to recommence driver tests in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9745/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe details regarding driving tests are a matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA), which has statutory responsibility for them. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
More generally, the RSA is currently working, in consultation with my Department, on plans for the resumption of the range of services and functions for which it is responsible, following the publication of the Government roadmap and, more recently, the National Return to Work Safety Protocol as agreed by employer and trade union representatives.
The resumption of driver testing raises particular problems in terms of compliance with the Protocol and in particular social distancing rules, as it requires the driver tester and the candidate to be within a two metre distance continuously for a period in excess of 20 minutes, in a very confined space which is not in itself a workplace under the control of the RSA.
I appreciate that the inability to carry out driving tests is among the many difficulties that we all are having to endure at this time, for those awaiting such tests. On a very preliminary appraisal of the Protocol, car driving tests may have to be the last of the statutory functions, for which the RSA is responsible, to recommence in or after Phase 5 of the Government's roadmap.
Dates for the resumption of the RSA's services, and any special arrangements which will need to be put into place to allow for the provision of these services, will be determined in consultation with the relevant health authorities.
The safety of the public is of paramount importance at this time, whether from infection or from deaths and injuries on the road, and in this as in all aspects of the Covid-19 crisis, my Department will be guided by NPHET and national experts.
984. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of progress of the BusConnects network redesign programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9746/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra985. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of progress of the BusConnects Core Bus Corridors programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9747/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 984 and 985 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the BusConnects programme.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
986. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount that has been spent on advertising in 2020 by his Department and agency on social media platforms (details supplied) in tabular form; and the name of each campaign advertised. [9845/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date this year there has been no spend by my Department on advertising services.
I have sent your request to all agencies under my aegis, and have requested that they forward the relevant information to you within 10 working days.
987. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when protocols and guidance will be issued to the owners of childcare facilities on the steps that need to be put in place in such facilities before they reopen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8386/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1037. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will publish detailed guidelines for the reopening of childcare facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9627/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 987 and 1037 together.
On Friday 1 May, the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and 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.
Expert guidance on the safe reopening of childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May. The guidance recommends use of a “play pod” model which restricts interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative to social distancing, on the basis that social distancing is not possible between young children.
Services are now being asked to apply the guidance to their setting and determine what capacity they may offer. It is expected that a significant amount of capacity will be available in individual services that reopen in the summer, subject to, for example, their space, room layout and staffing availability. Whilst there are 4,500 Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services in the country, fewer than 2,000 of these normally remain open in July and August.
I have been engaging intensively with a number of organisations representing the childcare sector, through an Advisory Group. A range of additional guidance and resources to assist the sector to prepare for reopening are currently being prepared and will start to issue in the coming days and continue over the remaining weeks before opening.
988. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the role and powers of city and county childcare committees; the way in which the membership of such committees is appointed; if there is a statutory basis for same; the person or body to which they are accountable; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8414/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs) to act as its local agent in the delivery of the national early education and childcare programmes and the implementation of Government policy. The CCCs were assigned by the National Childcare Strategy (2000) as the key local component in the development of a co-ordinated approach to quality childcare and to advance the provision of childcare facilities in their local areas.
The role of the CCCs is to provide support and guidance to local service providers and parents in relation to the various childcare programmes, and support quality in keeping with national frameworks and policy objectives. CCCs are often the first port of call for both parents and childcare providers when trying to access information on early learning and care and school-age childcare initiatives. My Department, Pobal and the CCCs also work collaboratively via a case management process to closely support contracted services experiencing challenges. CCCs are therefore a key component in the suite of supports made available by my Department to the early learning and care and school-age childcare sector.
Each Committee has a distinct legal identity and board of directors. 29 of the 30 CCCs are Companies Limited by Guarantee (Mayo CCC comes under the remit of Mayo County Council). The Board are the legal entity and governance structure of the CCC and are mandated by the CCC's own Memoranda and Articles of Association or Constitution, as required by the Company’s Registration Office (CRO) and, where applicable, the Charities Regulator. Members of CCC Boards individually and collectively as company directors and as a legal entity are subject to governance responsibilities and accountabilities under common law in general and the Companies Act 2014.
CCC Boards are well established. Boards ensure their memberships are of a size and composition that supports effective governance, operation and continuity. The range of skills held by Board members is paramount, with members selected on the basis of their skills rather than the constituencies they represent.
My Department sets the key objectives and actions for the CCCs on an annual basis. Pobal, on behalf of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, manages the funding of CCCs, oversees their work and provides development supports. Each CCC must submit quarterly reports to Pobal in respect of their progress in delivering/implementing the actions as set by my Department. My Department liaises closely with Pobal in this regard. Pobal further undertakes audit and verification visits to CCCs ensure the investment by DCYA is appropriately accounted for.
989. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will consider allocating a family resource status to a centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8417/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency, is responsible for the administration of the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme. Tusla has no current plans to expand the FRC Programme in 2020.
Should a new FRC application process be established, Tusla's local Area Managers will be made aware of the process. Expressions of interest will be sought from community organisations. Tusla's criteria for such a process involves Local Area Commissioning planning in order to identify service delivery requirements based on population demographics, presenting and projected needs. Service inadequacies and gaps in service provision are also identified through Tusla’s Commissioning process.
I have requested that Tusla respond to you directly with regard to services in the area where the organisation concerned is based. Tusla will continue to work with community organisations to meet the needs of vulnerable children, families and communities.
990. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which decisions will be made regarding childcare access in which there is an excess of demand, for example, if essential healthcare workers will receive priority to access. [8420/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra996. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if essential workers will be able to access full-time childcare from 29 June 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8488/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1002. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress made and the measures that will be in place for 29 June 2020 to ensure childcare services are available to employees returning to work in cases in which the employer in view of the nature of the business is not in a position to offer additional leave, working from home options or alternative working hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8556/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 990, 996 and 1002 together.
On Friday 1 May the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice, available evidence and consultation with ELC and SAC stakeholder representatives.
The Roadmap proposes that the reopening of crèches, childminders and preschools in a phased manner will begin in Phase 3, which is currently scheduled to begin on 29 June. Last Friday, 29 May, I announced which children would be eligible to resume full or part-time childcare services from 29 June. Whilst initially the Government Roadmap had indicated that services would resume only for the children of essential workers, this has now been widened.
Subject to local capacity, from 29 June services are encouraged to support:
- children of health and social care workers, other frontline workers, childcare practitioners and parents who need access to childcare in order to return to work;
- vulnerable children sponsored under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) (for example, children whose families are homeless and Tusla referrals) and children funded through legacy childcare schemes who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage or child welfare issues;
- children with disabilities who previously attended part or full-time early learning and care, including those preparing to start school in September; and
- children previously registered in childcare services on March 12, whose parents continue to need childcare for employment or training purposes and who were assured that they would retain their place through conditions attached to my Department’s Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS).
In the best interests of the child and parents, children should, as far as possible, be enabled to return to the childcare service they attended Pre-Covid19. Given the changed model of interaction and the time lapse since the child last attended, it is important that further unfamiliar elements are not introduced to the child at this point.
If local capacity issues emerge, services will be asked to give priority to the children of frontline workers.
Childminders may also resume caring for children in the childminder’s home from 29 June.
Service providers and parents are encouraged to make early contact with each other so that the level of demand and supply for places from 29 June can be known.
991. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of crèches that will leave or have left the childcare sector in 2020 either due to natural attrition or the impacts of Covid-19. [8421/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraEvery year a number of early years services decide to close of their own volition, often for a variety of reasons. In line with the provisions of the Child Care Act 1991 (as amended by Part 12 of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013), early years services that decide to cease operations are required to notify Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate of their planned closure. All data collected by Tusla relating to reported closures is collated and verified on a rolling quarterly basis.
Both my Department and Tusla are aware of and appreciate the difficulties faced by many early years providers as a result of the on-going Covid-19 public health restrictions and acknowledge the impact of these restrictions on the sector.
Despite this difficult situation, data received by Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate has shown that there have been relatively few permanent closures of early years services to date as a result of the ongoing restrictions. The number of reported closures for Quarter 1 2020 is seven. Data for Quarter 2 is not yet available.
As a direct response to the COVID-19 closure of ELC and SAC services, I launched the Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS) which is a very significant measure to support the sector. TWSCS operates in conjunction with the Revenue Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS), which was initially introduced on 26 March to operate for 12 weeks, until 18 June.
My Department is currently examining funding options for the childcare sector in relation to the reopening of services.
992. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of full-time equivalent childcare places for preschool children which will be available in September 2020. [8422/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach year Pobal conducts research on behalf of my Department to examine a number of factors related to early learning and care and school age childcare services in Ireland, including the monitoring of capacity. This is published in an annual Early Years Sector Profile.
In line with recent trends, and based on the number of places available in previous programme years, my Department estimates that the number of full day places which would have been available in September 2020, if the Covid-19 pandemic had not occurred, would have been 48,900.
However it must be stressed that this is an estimate, and that operational capacity will be dependent on Covid-19 pandemic restrictions in place in September 2020.
993. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of full-time childcare places which were available for preschool children in September 2018 and 2019. [8423/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraEach year Pobal conducts research on behalf of my Department to examine a number of factors related to early learning and care and school age childcare services in Ireland, including the monitoring of capacity. This is published in the annual Early Years Sector Profile.
Based on the Annual Early Years Service Profile 2018/19 data (collected in May 2019), it can be estimated that in September 2018 there were 46,568 full day places available nationally for pre-school children.
The data for the 2019 annual Early Years Sector Profile will not be available until later this year, but my Department has estimated, based on the 2018/19 sector profile and trends from previous years, that the number of full day places available nationally in September 2019 was 47,732.
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 fhreagraThe 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.
995. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when all parents will be able to resume using childminding services in the child’s and childminder’s home. [8425/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, decisions on the permitted operation of childcare services must depend on public health guidance. My Department has received clarification from the Department of Health that the current advice on the HSE website remains valid for the present: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/protecting-your-child.html. This advice specifies that currently childminders may work temporarily in the child’s home, but should not work in their own homes.
On Friday 1 May the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice, available evidence and consultation with ELC and SAC stakeholder representatives.
The Roadmap proposes that the reopening of crèches, childminders and preschools in a phased manner will begin in Phase 3, which is currently scheduled to begin on 29 June. Last Friday, 29 May, I announced that childminders will also be able to resume looking after children in the childminder’s home from 29 June, while complying with HPSC advice.
997. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a person (details supplied) will be entitled to access full-time childcare for their child from 29 June 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8489/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Friday 1 May, the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and 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.
The future stages of the Roadmap's re-opening of ELC/SAC services are stated as follows:
Phase 3 (29 June), opening of crèches, childminders and preschools for children of essential workers in a phased manner with social distancing and other requirements applying.
Phase 4 (20 July), opening of crèches, childminders and preschools for children of all other workers on a gradually increasing phased basis and slowly increasing thereafter.
The sector has many questions regarding how the Roadmap will be implemented to enable services to re-open. While the COVID-19 emergency called for overnight action on closures, it is my ambition that the phased re-opening will enable sufficient time and planning to re-open in an orderly, safe and sustainable manner. I would like to reassure providers, practitioners, parents and children that I will be doing my utmost to support the sector in offering as smooth a transition as possible to the phased and restricted re-opening of ELC and SAC services.
My Department is currently working with the sector to answer the many questions that exist. This is complex work and must balance a number of important issues, including those mentioned by the Deputy around capacity. Informed by NPHET and public health guidance, consideration is being given to a range of these issues, including:
- Minimising the public health risk, especially given the difficulty of maintaining social distancing among young children and those caring for them,
- Ensuring the need for any restrictions to be consistent with young children’s well-being and development needs and for ELC and SAC provision at each phase to be child-centred.
- Providing ELC for pre-school children, meeting parental demand for ELC and SAC as the economy reopens, and meeting the commitment to retain places for families who paid for ELC and SAC before COVID-19, all while restricting capacity and thereby reducing adult-child ratios.
- Ensuring financial sustainability of the sector when capacity restrictions limit income and parents cannot afford to cover any higher costs with higher fees.
Ensuring a sufficient number of qualified ELC and SAC practitioners, given likelihood of reduced adult-child ratios and existing challenges with recruitment and retention.
I am actively engaging with key stakeholders in the sector to make sure that the work on re-opening services is informed by the practical reality across the country. I have established and Chair an Advisory Group that includes representatives chosen by the sector, specifically the Association of Childhood Professionals, Community Forum, Early Childhood Ireland, National Childhood Network, PLÉ and Seas Suas. The group also includes Tusla, Pobal, SIPTU and Childminding Ireland. The first meeting of this Advisory Group took place on 13 May and I held follow up meetings on 15 and 19 May. A schedule of weekly meetings has also been agreed.
The proposals for re-opening which are in development will have due regard to Public Health guidance over the phases of easing of restrictions. I am conscious that the proposed timelines are subject to further NPHET advice, and decisions from Government.
Identifying essential workers, who will be eligible for childcare as part of this reopening, is part of the wider Government effort to ensure that society and business are re-opened in a carefully managed and safe manner.
If capacity issues emerge in ELC and SAC services as they reopen, priority for places should be given to the children of essential or frontline workers. I would encourage parents to discuss this directly with their childcare provider or childminder.
There are a number of key decisions to be made across Government that will impact significantly on the ELC and SAC sector, including the future of emergency measures such as the Revenue operated Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection operated Pandemic Unemployment Payment, and other business supports. The proposals for re-opening ELC and SAC services necessarily interact with these schemes and so I will be relying on whole of Government plans, which impact the ELC and SAC sector.
It is my fervent hope that every early education and childcare service around the country is currently considering how it can be part of helping Ireland get back to work, and how it can support children from June 29th in the very difficult circumstances they have experienced in recent months.
I will undertake to update the Deputy as soon as the work on re-opening services is at a more advanced stage.
998. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has raised the possibility of childminders that mind children in their own homes to recommence minding children in the home of the childminder if they care for children from just one household. [8496/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, decisions on the permitted operation of childcare services must depend on public health guidance. My Department has received clarification from the Department of Health that the current advice on the HSE website remains valid for the present: www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/protecting-your-child.html. This advice specifies that currently childminders may work in the child’s home, but should not work in their own homes.
On Friday 1 May the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice, available evidence and consultation with ELC and SAC stakeholder representatives.
The Roadmap proposes that the reopening of crèches, childminders and preschools in a phased manner will begin in Phase 3, which is currently scheduled to begin on 29 June. Last Friday, 29 May, I announced that childminders will also be able to resume looking after children in the childminder’s home from 29 June, while complying with HPSC advice.
999. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department will be recommending that childcare will be carried out through a pod system; if so, if she will increase the ECCE to cover additionally incurred wages; if childcare providers will be encouraged to rent or buy modular buildings to facilitate such a method of childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8523/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraExpert guidance on the safe reopening of childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May. The guidance, developed in consultation with my Department, focuses on a “play pod” model which restricts interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative to social distancing, on the basis that social distancing is not possible between young children.
Based on advice provided by the HPSC I do not propose to change the Regulations on either the adult-child ratios or the floor-space requirements for early learning and care or school-age childcare services as such changes are unnecessary where "play pods" are in use.
Services are now being asked to apply the guidance to their setting and determine what capacity they may offer. It is expected that a significant amount of capacity will be available in individual services that reopen in the summer, subject to, for example, their space, room layout and staffing availability.
The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate recently wrote to service providers to inform them of its intention to recommence Fit for Purpose inspections of services. This will allow new services to be registered and changes in circumstances for existing services to be approved prior to the reopening of services in late June.
My Department has also conducted research to assess the level of demand among parents for childcare services. Preliminary data has revealed that while 27% of parents were availing of centre-based care prior to restrictions, 13% of parents intend to use centre-based care once restrictions are lifted.
In the context of all of the above, there does not appear to be a general need for childcare providers to rent or buy modular buildings to address capacity or space issues. However, my Department will keep the matter under review as we prepare for reopening of services and through the early stages of the reopening. Should capacity issues arise, my Department will look at all options to enable additional capacity.
While childcare services will be permitted to reopen from 29 June, in line with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, the ECCE pre-school programme will not recommence before the end of August. I am currently prioritising the actions necessary for reopening on 29 June. Once these are advanced, priority will move to the more detailed planning for the resumption of the ECCE programme.
1000. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on whether planning issues will arise from childcare providers having to extend their capacity through portacabins or modular buildings; if her Department has examined planning exemptions that may be necessary to provide swift solution for parents that need childcare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8524/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe health, safety and well-being of children is of utmost importance. As such, buildings that are intended for the purpose of Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare must meet all regulatory compliance requirements, including planning requirements. It is important that we do not deviate from these safety measures even during these unprecedented times.
Expert guidance on the safe reopening of childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May. The guidance focuses on use of a “play pod” model which restricts interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative to social distancing, on the basis that social distancing is not possible between young children.
Based on advice provided by the HPSC I do not propose to change the Regulations on either the adult-child ratios or the floor-space requirements for early learning and care or school-age childcare services as such changes are unnecessary where "play pods" are in use.
Services are now being asked to apply the guidance to their setting and determine what capacity they may offer. It is expected that a significant amount of capacity will be available in individual services that reopen in the summer, subject to, for example, their space, room layout and staffing availability.
The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate recently wrote to service providers to inform them of its intention to recommence Fit for Purpose inspections of services. This will allow new services to be registered and changes in circumstances for existing services to be approved prior to the reopening of services in late June.
My Department has also conducted research to assess the level of demand among parents for childcare services. Preliminary data has revealed that while 27% of parents were availing of centre-based care prior to restrictions, 13% of parents intend to use centre-based care once restrictions are lifted.
In the context of all of the above, there does not appear to be a need for relaxation of planning laws in relation to childcare facilities to address capacity or space issues at present. However, my Department will keep the matter under review as we prepare for reopening of services and through the early stages of the reopening.
1001. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way in which she had planned on spending the €4.7 million per week on the childcare scheme for essential workers; the way in which this funding is now being spent in view of the fact the scheme has been cancelled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8525/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented situation that has required a series of emergency responses from the Government.
I announced the Temporary Childcare Scheme for Essential Health Workers on 7 May to support essential health workers who are having difficulty meeting their childcare needs. The Scheme was designed in response to a request from the Department of Health and the HSE to put emergency childcare in place for essential health workers. Existing, registered childcare services were invited to participate in the provision of childcare in the homes of essential healthcare workers.
The Deputy will be aware that the Temporary Childcare Scheme for Essential Health Workers did not proceed on the 18 May as planned. The scheme was launched with a call to childcare services to volunteer to provide childcare for health workers in their homes. Unfortunately, uptake for the scheme among childcare providers was much lower than was hoped.
The Temporary Childcare Scheme for Essential Health Workers was expected to operate for an initial period of 4 weeks, and would have utilised funding allocated under the Early Learning and Care and School Age Childcare budget over that time. Funding under this ELC and SAC budget will be directed towards the phased reopening of early learning and childcare facilities from 29th June, in line with the Government's Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. This budget also currently provides for the ongoing operation of the DCYA Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS). The TWSCS was developed to sustain the early learning and care (ELC) and school Aged Care (SAC) sector and is layered on top of the wider Revenue operated TWSS. These emergency measures have been in place since 6th April.
1003. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if consideration has been given to an independent inquiry into the abuses in an organisation (details supplied). [8572/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe initiation of any independent inquiry is a very significant matter and one which will require careful consideration.
As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I have previously taken a number of actions in response to allegations of poor safeguarding policies and practice in Scouting Ireland. These included the suspension of funding pending the appointment of a new Board, the appointment of Ms Jillian van Turnhout to conduct a review of governance, which was completed in June 2018, and the requirement for regular updates on governance reforms by Scouting Ireland to my Department.
In addition, earlier this year, I appointed Ms Brigid McManus to conduct a follow-up review of governance in Scouting Ireland. This was published on 8th May and confirmed that all of Ms van Turnhout’s recommendations had been satisfactorily implemented, while outlining a small number of matters for follow up.
I welcome the publication by Mr. Elliott of his learning review into historical sexual abuse in scouting. My thoughts are with the adults who suffered so gravely as children through their involvement with scouting and who have carried this burden with them into their adult lives.
I met with Mr Elliott, following receipt of his review, and was pleased to hear that, notwithstanding the seriousness of the findings, he was very positive about the current governance arrangements in Scouting Ireland, with a Board that is strong and well-functioning, and with robust safeguarding in place. Tusla has also written to the Department to indicate its satisfaction with current safeguarding practice in Scouting Ireland, particularly as it relates to the agreed Scouting Ireland / Tusla Action Plan.
The Government had previously undertaken to give careful consideration to the question of an appropriate statutory investigation following the RTÉ Investigates programme “Scouts Dishonour”. It was appropriate for Government to await the reports from Ms Brigid McManus and Mr Ian Elliott to inform this consideration. In this regard, it is noted that Mr Elliott’s report suggests that a statutory inquiry may face the same limitations as his Learning Review. Mr Elliott has also emphasised the cooperation of Scouting Ireland in relation to his review. As such, a key factor is whether a statutory or public inquiry would uncover new information. This is something which will need to be taken into account in contemplating the question of an inquiry.
