Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
701. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the concern among childcare providers about the after-school programme and that the programme will have to close in a significant number of facilities; and the steps he is taking to ensure that after-school services are viable after the pandemic. [16723/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 - The Path Ahead approved by Government on 23 February, I announced the gradual lifting of restrictions on the operation of early learning and childcare services, subject to continued improvement in the public health situation.
In January, early learning and childcare and school-age childcare (ELC and SAC) services were restricted to children of essential workers and vulnerable children only and the ECCE pre-school programme was suspended. As part of a careful and cautious reopening of priority sectors of society and the economy, ELC and SAC have been opening for other groups of children throughout March on a phased basis:
- From 8 March, the ECCE Programme reopened for all participating children; and
- As of 29 March other restrictions have been lifted so that all other children can return to ELC and SAC services (i.e. those that are not the children of essential workers or not vulnerable children).
To ensure that services were financially supported and in a position to re-open, the Covid-19 Operating Support Payment (COSP) introduced in February was extended until 26 March for eligible services. This was to help offset loss of parental fees for services which are highly reliant on private income.
Both ELC and SAC services continue to be eligible for the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) and are exempt from the turnover rule. This has been providing a significant level of financial support to ELC and SAC services since it was launched. The Early Learning and Childcare providers continue to be eligible to access without having to demonstrate 30% reduction in turnover as other employers do. The enhanced EWSS is estimated to cover 80% of payroll costs or 50% of full operating costs of this services. ELC/SAC services continue to be entitled to access the EWSS to end June 2021 and all are encouraged to do so.
On 26 March this year, I also announced a new strand of Sustainability funding, COVID-19 Impact Support, which is available to both community and private ELC and SAC services that face financial deficits despite other support measures. This support will remain available throughout 2021. Any ELC or SAC service providers which think they may need this support should contact their local CCC in the first instance to discuss eligibility.
Additional support is also available through the Case Management process. My Department oversees a Case Management process through which local CCCs and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to early learning and care and school age childcare services experiencing difficulties. All services who require support should contact their local CCC in the first instance.
I hope that these measures will ensure that all SAC services can continue to operate viably during and after the pandemic.
