Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yes, two and half minutes each, and that includes our questions and answers.

Early years preschool and afterschool services are currently finding it very difficult. The providers are essential workers who have been asked to keep their premises open to look after children of essential workers and vulnerable children. A 28-page document came out yesterday stating that the services to be opened are getting funding, yet other services that are closed are getting the same funding. They cannot survive at 70% capacity. The cost is the same. They are very concerned as to how to keep themselves safe. They are not included as a priority group for Covid vaccination, even though they are front-line workers. I wish to highlight their legitimate concerns. I was contacted by 38 groups in Limerick city and county. They are looking at opening communications; not a hurried email on a Friday evening telling them they have to remain open for front-line workers. Communication is key. Surely other families could also avail of the services. It is not sustainable to operate at their current capacity. Crèches have been in contact with me stating they are operating at 20% capacity. Some crèches have only five or six children where they previously had 50. As it stands, those businesses are not sustainable. One preschool owner is waiting to see whether they will get their ECCE payment. They do not know if they will get it. This goes for all services. They still have the same overheads. They will be unable to open next Monday if this payment is not made.

PPE gear is another major issue. While the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, said there was no cut to PPE gear, schools are closed and crèches and early education services, which are open, have been given no funding for PPE since last June. I now call on the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, to do his job and turn the childcare sector into a safe place to work.

The Minister for Health is always saying he would like to simplify and explain to us how things work. Let us say I am self-employed and I go into a shop tomorrow morning looking for a sandwich that costs €1. Let us simplify it. If I have 70 cent, I do not get that sandwich, or else the person who owns the shop has to take on the loss of the difference. Anyone who is keeping his or her premises open for front-line workers needs to be represented and paid 100%.

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