Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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1027. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the date by which the childcare temporary wage subsidy scheme will be extended to; and if the current rate of the payment will be maintained throughout this period. [9332/20]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an unprecedented situation that has required a series of emergency responses from the Government.

As the Deputy is aware, in response to Government measures to provide financial support to workers the Office of the Revenue Commissioners launched the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) for a period of up to 12 weeks on March 26. The scheme enables employees, whose employers are affected by the pandemic, to receive significant supports directly from their employer through the payroll system.  

My Department's Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS) was developed to sustain the early learning and care (ELC) and school age care (SAC) sector and is layered on top of the wider Revenue operated TWSS. The scheme was introduced for a temporary period only, until mid June. The scheme has received a very positive response from the sector with over 84% of services signing up to it.

Any decision with regard to the extension of the DCYA temporary wage subsidy childcare scheme is dependent on the future of the Revenue scheme, which is currently under review by Government. I am also in the process of developing a new funding model for the reopening of childcare services on June 29th. I am conscious that approximately 2000 childcare services operate every summer and I am working with their representatives to support them in their plans for reopening.

I will be happy to update the Deputy in the coming weeks as the new funding model is finalised.