Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Covid-19 sustainability support grant will be available to early learning and childcare services where there is a demonstrated decline in occupancy or a verified increase in costs due to Covid-19 that is not addressed by the significant financial measures already put in place, which we have discussed.

I have allocated €2 million for the scheme. This is in addition to resumed funding for the Department’s childcare schemes and the employment wage subsidy scheme, which funds an average of 38% of providers' costs as well as the capital grant scheme and the reopening support grant.

In the interest of preserving capacity in the sector, and as announced as part of the July stimulus measures, it was decided to expand the criteria for access to the sustainability fund by services for profit and not-for-profit services experiencing or at risk of a cash flow crisis arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The success of Government measures to date are demonstrated by the fact that 94% of services were open over the summer. In the next two to three weeks, further details on eligibility for the sustainability scheme will be made available. I will be happy to update the Deputy on uptake of the scheme as it proceeds over the coming months.

As we await the final detail of the scheme, my officials and I will continue to meet regularly with sectoral representatives. These meetings are used to keep the sector updated on progress and to get feedback from the sector to inform future developments. I will meet the forum on Thursday morning and continue that element of engagement.

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