Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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913. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if an analysis has been carried out of the financial burden Covid-19 infection controls such as social distancing, reduced capacity and other measures will have on childcare providers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11337/20]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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On 10 June 2020, I announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services. In accordance with the Government Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and guided by the expert advice of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC), ELC and SAC services can resume from 29 June. I am pleased that Government have committed a €75m package of funding for reopening services over the summer months. This substantial investment recognises the important role that the ELC and SAC sector plays in the societal and economic infrastructure of the country. 

The new funding package contains four significant elements:

- A once-off reopening support payment for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September.

- A once-off COVID-19 capital grant for DCYA-funded providers opening between 29 June and early September.

- Continued access for eligible providers to the Revenue-operated Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS)

- Resumption of DCYA ELC and SAC programmes. NCS, CCSP and TEC will be available again for children attending ELC and SAC services from 29 June.

An evidence-based approach was taken to develop this funding package. My Department undertook primary research to help forecast supply of, and demand for, ELC and SAC in the initial reopening period. Data was used from the Independent Review of Costs, which show that staff costs represent approximately 70 percent of the cost of delivering ELC and SAC - a significant portion of which is funded through the TWSS.

In developing the funding package, I recognise that a reduced number of children are likely to attend ELC and SAC services in the initial weeks of reopening. This funding package is tailored to allow providers to operate with potentially less parental income and to assist in meeting the possible costs associated with complying with public health requirements. The TWSS, in particular ensures a very significant proportion of the operating costs are met by the State.

Expert guidance on the safe reopening of ELC and SAC services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on 29 May.  The guidance recommends use of a “play pod” model which restricts interactions between closed groups of children and adults as an alternative to social distancing, on the basis that social distancing is not possible between young children. Based on advice provided by the HPSC, I do not propose to changes to Regulations in relation to either the adult-child ratios or the floor-space requirements for ELC or SAC services as such changes are unnecessary where "play pods" are in use. My Department has made the HPSC guidance and a number of other resources available to providers to assist them with reopening and to understand what is required of them.

The funding package will also ensure that ELC and SAC providers will not charge higher fees than they did pre-COVID-19. This will benefit parents and children returning to services.

A detailed set of FAQs was published on 12 June to ensure that providers are fully informed of the new funding package. My officials will ensure that the application process will be as straightforward as possible.

A key policy priority for my Department is the sustainability of the ELC and SAC sector and hence it has and continues to work intensively to support services to re-open after COVID-19. The reopening funding aims to support providers to reopen, staff to remain in the sector, parents to resume work, and children to benefit from quality ELC and SAC.