Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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607. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans for essential workers that do not use a centre-based setting and do not have access to a childminder on 29 June 2020; if such essential workers will be temporarily allowed use a crèche they previously had not used for the course of phase 3 of the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9900/20]

Katherine 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. 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 Return to Work Safely Protocol, expert advice, available evidence and consultation with ELC and SAC stakeholder representatives. Childminders may also resume caring for children in the childminder’s home from 29 June.

The Roadmap 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, I announced which children would be eligible to resume full or part-time childcare services from 29 June. Whilst initially the Government Roadmap had indicated that services would resume only for the children of essential workers, this has now been widened.

It is important to note that, as these are private businesses, the allocation of places within the widened eligibility criteria is a matter for the individual service provider. My Department is providing guidance to help support providers in managing allocation of places when services reopen.

In the best interests of the child and parents, children should, as far as possible, be enabled to return to the childcare service they attended Pre-Covid19. It is also a contractual requirement of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme that services should retain places for children who used them pre-Covid 19.

If a service has additional capacity they may register new families who have not previously used the setting, either on a long-term or a short-term basis depending on the service's capacity.

Subject to local capacity, from 29 June services are encouraged to also support:

- children of health and social care workers, other frontline workers, childcare practitioners and parents who need access to childcare in order to return to work;

- vulnerable children sponsored under the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) (for example, children whose families are homeless and Tusla referrals) and children funded through legacy childcare schemes who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage or child welfare issues; and

- children with disabilities who previously attended part or full-time early learning and care, including those preparing to start school in September.

Service providers and parents are encouraged to make early contact with each other so that the level of demand and supply for places from 29 June can be known.

Childminders and nannies have been able to continue working in the homes of essential workers throughout the pandemic period. From 29 June, childminders will also be able to return to working in the childminder's home. There are an estimated 15,000 childminders.