Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

It is hard to believe that it is only nine weeks since Covid-19 first arrived in the Republic of Ireland. To date, the focus has been on the immediate health impacts which have been devastating for so many families. However, the impact of Covid-19 goes far beyond the immediate threat to physical health. It will leave a long-term scar on our society that will take time and effort to heal.

One group that will find this period particularly difficult are our children and teenagers. Unfortunately, much of the discourse around children and teens since Covid-19 has arrived has been negative. They have been described as super-spreaders and as vectors, they have been banned from shops, which makes it nearly impossible for lone parents to shop for food safely, and teenagers in particular have borne a considerable amount of negative commentary. In reality, our children have done an amazing job over the last few months. What we have often forgotten in all of this is that their world has literally been turned upside down. They can no longer hang out with their friends in school or in their clubs and many have missed out on the rites of passage that accompany their big milestones, such as moving from primary to secondary school. They have had to adjust to remote learning, which may be difficult for many and impossible for some. Their routines have been completely interrupted, impacting on children with additional needs in particular. Social distancing measures, while necessary from a health perspective, mean that many children's social skills may regress.

Therefore, while many children will do okay, many others are lonely, confused and anxious. Some are experiencing digital poverty, some are facing issues of food poverty and some will be isolated at home with their abusers. We do not know what we are going to find when we finally get to open the door on homes across the country. There are some certainties, however. Our children will need help to reintegrate. From an educational perspective, the usual summer slide, where the long summer break means that children lose some of the skills they gained over the previous school year, will be greatly increased. Our usual summer slide will now be super-charged into a Covid-19 slide. This will disproportionately impact on children and young people who are already at a disadvantage, whether educationally or socially. The gap will widen. Unless this is addressed, some children will never be able to make up the time and the learning experiences they have lost.

While we can say we could never have imagined the Covid-19 crisis that has hit our shores, we will not have that excuse when it comes to protecting our most vulnerable children into the future. What we need is a cross-departmental task force that develops a transition plan specifically for children and young people. It needs to involve the Departments of Health, Education and Skills and Justice and Equality, as well as the children's rights organisations. It needs to pre-empt, plan and prepare the supports that children require as we move through the next number of months. Vulnerable children and those with additional needs should be a priority and the resources of the State should be directed at those children. For example, could schools open for children who are currently under the care of Tusla, for those children who require educational supports or for children of front-line healthcare workers? As this has happened in other countries, is it something we could do here?

Transition questions need to be asked and answered in a proactive manner. How will our children be reintegrated into the school community? How will we make sure every child has access to mental health and wraparound supports if they need them? Does the curriculum need to be revised to take into account the six-month educational gap? How do we make sure that our schools are better prepared for remote learning? How do we make sure that childcare is being provided in a safe manner that is appropriate for children and families?

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs needs to be the lead agency on this transition task force. It has demonstrated that it can work successfully across agencies and Departments, representing the best interests of children. This is the key reason the reported proposal by Fianna Fáil to disband the Department would be such a regressive step. There needs to be a Department and a Minister whose sole purpose is children and that has children and young people at its heart. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is needed now, more than ever, to ensure that children are protected as we move through the recovery. Will the Minister set up a transition task force, led by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, that specifically deals with children and young people, and that develops a child-focused transition plan, working with key agencies, and ensures that children and young adults get the supports and help they need over the coming months?

My next questions relate to childcare. Our childcare sector, much of which is already operating on a knife-edge, faces an uncertain future. I am aware of some providers which, unfortunately, have closed their doors. This is obviously difficult for those businesses and the families they support, and, unfortunately, it is likely that many others will follow suit, despite the best efforts of the Department. When parents are in a position to rejoin the workforce, they will need to know their children have a place with their childcare provider.

As a parent, I know how important it is for a family to click with a carer. Families would absolutely hate to give those people up. It is very important for these relationships to continue. It is important for the Department to consult and engage with providers, listen to suggestions and make all efforts to ensure the sustainability of the sector. It is a key cog in the context of restarting our economy and for families and children. Previously, I requested that the Department expand the remit of the sustainability fund to provide additional financial supports to those providers who may find they just cannot make it through the next few months. I reiterate the importance of this additional support for providers and ask the Minister for an update on my proposal to repurpose that fund to support at-risk childcare providers so they can be there when parents go back to work and need them most.

There also needs to be some clarity on the reopening of crèches, and the Minister has gone through some of this, because there is considerable confusion as to how that will happen. Home-based childminders also seek clarity on where they fit into the phasing plans, and whether there is an opportunity for them to look after one family in particular and be that family's provider. This could help them open up earlier than is in the phasing plan at present.

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