Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Perfect. I thank the Minister for her update. I have just a couple of questions from that and then some general points. The Minister stated 83% of providers have engaged with the scheme, which leaves, by my very quick calculations, 764 who have not. When we had our briefing last week, the Minister's Department said it would engage with those providers to find out why. Has she had any engagement with those 764 who have not signed up?

Can she provide any information as to why they have not signed up? Are we likely to lose those providers? The Minister stated that only seven providers have closed so far but that number of 764 would dwarf everything that has happened in the past three years. Some information about that prospect would be useful.

W all talk about essential workers whereas the Minister is carefully using the words "healthcare workers". As Deputy Rabbitte indicated, there are many more essential workers who require childcare and early years support. The people in my local supermarket are as much essential to our survival at this point as any other workers. Some clarity on the phasing and who will be able to access these services would be welcome. The phasing is important. The Minister stated that she is consulting with providers. That is great to hear and I accept that this issue is difficult and complex, with many moving parts, including the guidance from NPHET. I encourage the continuation of engagement with the early years forum and providers because it would be a shame to lose providers that are unable to engage with the phased opening when we have held onto them so far.

It is important to remember that many of our early years and youth work settings, for which the Minister has responsibility, as well as the family resource centres and these sorts of services provide much more than care and education. Many of these services are also providing a simple hot meal to children who might not otherwise get one.

Deputy Funchion mentioned the increase in domestic violence and we know that there has been a fall in the number referrals to Tusla at this time. It is important to remember that these services provide supports for vulnerable people and I would hope that, in any phased reopening, we can focus on those who are more vulnerable and who need the wider protections that these services offer.

I echo the comments about July provision. I have been lobbied by several parents in my constituency who rely heavily on July provision and asked me to raise the issue because of how important it is to them in dealing with vulnerable young people.

I will pick up on something from our briefing the other day during which the Minister mentioned a change to fostering regulations. Would she be able to provide the technical details of those proposed changes in writing? The wording of the change would be useful. I do not know if it has happened yet but it would be fine if the Minister could provide that in writing.

There is plenty of time left so the Minister should feel free to reply to Deputy Funchion about any thoughts or comments she may have about newspaper articles.

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