Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2020
64. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration the reason early childcare providers who have lost immediate family, even from Covid-19, and who take days off for the funeral have been told by his Department to make up those days. [31374/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe schemes operated by my Department are designed to support the objectives of providing for accessible, affordable, quality childcare and to improve outcomes for children.
Each individual scheme is subject to a funding agreement setting out the responsibilities of the provider and the Department in providing that scheme. The Department makes every possible effort to be flexible with providers participating in theses schemes. DCYA does this through its scheme administrator, Pobal.
In the case of the National Childcare Scheme, providers do not have to make up for closed days. The provider can select up to 10 days (in addition to bank holidays) that they can close for across the year and still be paid. The provider does not need to give a reason for these closures.
For ECCE, to ensure children benefit from the full 38 week provision of care and education, DCYA allows services to close temporarily where this is required, once it is notified to Pobal. Full payment continues in these cases, but the provider must make up the days at another time during the academic year, for example, by adding an extra day at the end of term, or during a mid–term break.
Providers have found this level of flexibility to be reasonable in the past allowing them to respond to any emergencies that may arise and it also ensures that children (or their parents) do not lose out on their entitlement.
Finally, it is important to note that while providing a crucial service, childcare providers and their staff are not employees of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. As such the Department is not responsible for the leave arrangements of childcare providers, whether leave is required on compassionate, bereavement or any other grounds.
