Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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602. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that for many childminders reopening will not be feasible or sustainable if they can only provide care to parents that are essential workers; and if she has considered extending financial supports to these childminders. [9868/20]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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The Roadmap for the Reopening of Society and Business proposes that the reopening of crèches, childminders and preschools in a phased manner will begin in Phase 3, which is currently scheduled to begin on 29 June. On 29 May, in line with the Roadmap, I announced that in Phase 3 childminders will be allowed to work in their own homes. I also announced which children would be eligible to resume full or part-time childcare services from 29 June, both with childminders and in centre-based services. Whilst initially the Government Roadmap had indicated that services would resume only for the children of essential workers, this has now been widened.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) guidance developed by their Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Division (AMRIC) on 'Infection Prevention and Control guidance for settings providing childcare during the COVID-19 Pandemic' was agreed by NPHET’s Expert Advisory Group and has been published on the HPSC website and on my Department's website. The public health guidance will allow childminders to operate without any significant reductions in capacity. Working in collaboration with Childminding Ireland (the national childminding body funded by my Department), my Department will be publishing guidance specific to childminders in the coming days, based on the HPSC public health advice.

As services reopen, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs will keep the operation of the guidance under close review and take appropriate updated action as required.

I will be announcing the details of financial supports for early learning and care and school-age childcare providers, including childminders, in the coming days.