Written answers

Wednesday, 27 May 2020

Department of Children and Youth Affairs

Covid-19 Pandemic

Photo of Anne RabbitteAnne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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878. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the definition of essential workers that will be offered childcare under phase 3 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business; the way in which the definition was reached; if a list of essential workers is available in order to inform employees if they will be entitled to childcare; the childcare plans in place for workers not deemed essential; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7706/20]

Photo of Katherine ZapponeKatherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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On Friday 1 May, the Government released its Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, which sets out Ireland's plan for lifting COVID-19 restrictions through five phases. The re-opening of Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare (ELC and SAC) services will be guided by this framework and will be underpinned by the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice, available evidence and consultation with ELC and SAC stakeholder representatives and providers themselves.

My Department remains strongly focused on developing solutions to the significant challenges of a phased reopening of early learning and care and childcare facilities for 29 June 2020.

The Roadmap proposes the gradual re-opening of ELC/SAC services across all phases as follows:

Phase 3 (29 June),opening of crèches, childminders and preschools for children of essential workers in a phased manner with social distancing and other requirements applying; and

Phase 4 (20 July),opening of crèches, childminders and preschools for children of all other workers on a gradually increasing phased basis and slowly increasing thereafter.

Essential workers are workers providing an essential service. A list of services that are currently defined as essential can be found on . Any amendments to this list of essential services are a matter for Government.

The phased re-opening enables some time and planning to ensure re-opening in an orderly, safe and sustainable manner. My Department is currently working with the sector to answer the many questions that exist. This is complex work and must balance a number of important issues.

I am actively engaging with key stakeholders in the sector to make sure that the work on re-opening services is informed by the practical reality across the country. I have established and Chair an Advisory Group that includes representatives chosen by the sector, specifically the Association of Childhood Professionals, Community Forum, Early Childhood Ireland, National Childhood Network, PLÉ and Seas Suas. The group also includes Tusla, Pobal, SIPTU and Childminding Ireland. The first meeting of this Advisory Group took place on 13 May and I held follow up meetings on 15, 19 and 26 May. A schedule of weekly meetings has also been agreed.

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