Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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750. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the additional supports that will be provided to childcare facilities that open before September 2020, in view of the fact they face additional costs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12752/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I fully appreciate that the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) sector faces significant challenges in reopening, and I acknowledge that this is not a normal return to business. In recognition of this, a number of supports have been put in place to assist the sector in reopening.

I recently announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of ELC and SAC services from 29 June, including aonce-off capital grant of €14.2M. All registered centre based services re-opening between 29 June and the beginning of September can avail of this grant.

This grant can be used by services to help them to adhere to the reopening guidelines by improving hygiene facilities and outdoor play areas. It should be noted that the definition of a capital asset is an asset intended for use on a continuing basis with an expected life of more than one year. Therefore capital grants cannot be used to purchase PPE and other consumable items.

There is a high level of flexibility being allowed in respect of the items that may be purchased, in recognition of the fact that services will have very different needs depending on factors such as what they already have, what age groups they cater to, and the physical layout of their premises. A list of eligible categories of items has been shared with ELC and SAC services.

In addition to capital, the package of supports includes a re-opening grant of €18m to assist ELC and SAC services in meeting operational costs, including additional staffing costs. This may cover extra staff required to help with pick-up or drop-off times, or to provide cleaning to meet hygiene standards. ELC and SAC services will be required to verify that the reopening support payment has been used to cover additional costs. Any overheads that are additional costs associated with reopening can be assigned to this purpose. 

In addition the Revenue-operated Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) is continuing for employees of ELC and SAC services that reopen on 29 June, which will continue to provide support with staffing costs. There is a variety of conditions relating to the TWSS.  Revenue update their guidance frequently and it is essential that services participating in the scheme are alert to these materials. 

In developing this funding model I recognise that a reduced number of children are likely to attend ELC and SAC services in the initial weeks of reopening. This necessitates a tailored model, which will allow providers to operate with potentially less parental income. It will also ensure that ELC and SAC providers will not have to charge higher fees than they did pre-COVID-19, even though the costs of providing ELC and SAC may increase in some circumstances. This will benefit parents and children returning to services.

This suite of measures will run from 29 June to 23 August. Further details on all of these measures have been made available in FAQs that have been distributed to all ELC and SAC services.

My Department will review the operation of these measures in July and will then make further arrangements for services normally reopening in late August/early September. I acknowledge that the Deputy makes specific reference to this September in her question, but through these supports my Department is responding to the immediate need to reopen ELC and SAC services, in line with the Government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. As the Deputy will be aware, this plan for a phased reopening is under continuous assessment with regard to wider developments as they unfold. DCYA will continue to analyse the needs of the sector in the context of the country’s phased reopening going forward.