Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
744. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of after-school places that will be provided in September 2020; if there is engagement with the Department of Education and Skills on the provision of additional after-school places on a full-time basis in the event primary schools do not reopen in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19124/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs School Age Childcare providers are private operators, my Department is not in a position to know, at this point in time, how many School Age Childcare places will be available in September.
My Department has carried out research into the intentions of parents and early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC) providers to estimate the likely supply and demand for places in the coming months.
A phone survey of ELC and SAC providers was carried out between 4 and 12 June 2020. Of 2,624 services contacted, 85% indicated they were planning on reopening, while 2% indicated they were not. The rest had not decided at that time.
Expert guidance on the safe reopening of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) 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. Based on advice provided by the HPSC, the Regulations in relation to the adult-child ratios and the floor-space requirements for ELC or SAC services have not been amended as such changes are unnecessary where "play pods" are in use.
While some settings may reduce capacity depending on their layout, there are no required capacity reductions, and most services should be able to comply with the public health advice with no or little reduction in the number of places provided.
The Tusla Early Years Inspectorate maintains the register of early years services and so collates data on closures and new services registered. Every year some services close and some new services open. Currently data for both closures and new services are down slightly when compared with the same period last year, and overall there is no significant variation in the number of services operating in 2020 when compared with 2019.
The interim public health advice received by the Department of Education and Skills sets out the key public health requirements that will be required for a safe full reopening of schools in late August/ September and the measures that will be required to achieve this.
In relation to the reopening of childcare services that operate on school premises, officials in my Department have been in contact with colleagues in the Department of Education and Skills. The Department of Education and Skills have advised that the use of school facilities lies with the relevant school authority in consultation with the property owner, and that priority should be given to the interests of the school, teachers and pupils. The Department of Education and Skills’ policy is to encourage the use of school facilities, where possible, for community, training and education-related activities.
To assist schools in considering applications for use of their facilities, the Department of Education and Skills in consultation with representatives of schools has drafted guidelines on the use of school property outside of school hours which is available here:
https://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Policy-Reports/guidelines-on-the-use-of-school-buildings-outside-of-school-hours.pdf
These guidelines are not intended to be exhaustive or prescriptive but are provided to assist schools in considering applications for the use of their facilities.
The use of school facilities should be managed at local level between the childcare service provider and the school.
