Mr. Tony Fitzpatrick:

Ms Ní Sheaghdha has gone on mute. Deputy Shortall asked about childcare. The unions collectively wrote to the Ministers for Education, Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Health, Deputies Foley, O'Gorman and Stephen Donnelly, respectively, on that issue. We have had no response from the Department of Education. We asked that schools consider opening for healthcare workers to allow them to continue to go to work. A nurse in Cavan does not have that facility but a nurse in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, does because they have kept the schools open for healthcare workers in that jurisdiction.

On the Deputy's specific asks, the unions have asked that if healthcare workers secure childcare within their bubble or anywhere else and there is a cost associated with that, the cost would be reimbursed to them in order to allow them to go to work, care for their patients and have the security that childcare costs will be covered, particularly as the day is much longer now that the schools are closed. We asked for this before the new year. Up to last week, we were told it was under consideration by three Departments. Yesterday, it was confirmed that those involved would not do anything about it.