Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Before I begin, I thank the Minister for her responses and those of her staff working in her office concerning questions I raised last week.

I begin by noting that the advisory group on the reopening of early learning and care and school-age childcare services met last Friday, 15 May, and that the Department is continuing to make preparations for the phased reopening of childcare services in line with the Government's Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. As I understand it, six sectoral representatives, nominated by the sector, participated in the group. Despite such intense collaboration and wide-ranging consultation, how is that the availability of childcare facilities for front-line workers has still not materialised?

I will explore that question further. Many Members would have been supportive of the decision to roll out that service, but it appears that a roadblock around insurance and State indemnity has been the rock on which this scheme perished. If that is the case, why was there no representative from the insurance sector on the advisory board? Was the sector asked to participate and did it refuse to take part? It is something on which I would like clarity.

From what I and other Members can see, the insurance sector has been nothing but obstructive in the entire process of getting us back to normality. Not alone is that confined to the childcare sector, the insurance companies have also been extremely obstructive regarding businesses. I have raised that point here. It is absolutely outrageous that this has been allowed to continue. Having said that, however, it is also clear that responsibility for some of the confusion around the roll-out of childcare services can be put down to the lack of communication by the Department. That is certainly the sentiment being expressed by the childcare representatives on the ground. Despite the composition of the advisory group, they feel that clarity on what exactly is happening is not reaching the providers.

Turning to a different matter, the Minister might provide me with an update on the work of the school meals programme. As I understand it, the Minister's Department, in conjunction with the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department of Education and Science, has devised updated guidelines for 1,580 schools and organisations in the programme. What has been the feedback from Tusla's education support service, which I understand is communicating with all home school community liaison co-ordinators and school completion programmes on this issue?

My final question concerns family resource centres. I know they are experiencing some service pressures regarding funding and their wish to increase staffing levels. Will the Minister please clarify if she has engaged with the family resource centres and outline how she proposes to respond to the challenges this sector is experiencing?

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