Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein)
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749. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the procedure in place for registration of children on CCSP schemes that are scheduled to return to childcare from 29 June 2020; if they will they have to re-register; the way in which families will obtain supporting documentation from offices of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection closed due to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12697/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department, in conjunction with Pobal, the agency which administers the childcare funding schemes operated by my Department, has established a simplified registration system for children who are returning to childcare on or after 29 June, and who are availing of the Department funded CCSP scheme. 

Childcare service providers have been asked to contact parents to ascertain the number of hours they require, which can be done via email or other electronic means. There will be no re-check of eligibility for children re-registering under the CCSP programme for the remainder of the 2019/20 programme year, therefore it will not be necessary for families to obtain supporting documentation from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. 

All service providers have received detailed guidance on how to register children.

My Department has ensured that the administrative overhead for providers is kept to the minimum necessary, whilst also ensuring that Exchequer funds are managed and deployed to best effect.

Pobal and the County Childcare Committees (CCCs) are available to provide support and guidance to service providers through this process.