Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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577. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he has examined reducing childcare costs for parents in cases in which children are sent home from the childcare setting if they may have symptoms (details supplied) in view of the fact that this is likely to happen more often in view of the precautions against Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13845/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Early learning and care services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. Services are contracted by my Department to provide services at a subsidised rate to parents.

Where a child is absent from a service, my Department continues to pay subvention for that child for a period of four weeks, which can be increased to 12 weeks in the case of certified illness of the child or parent.

Parents enter into contracts with the service provider for the delivery of childcare services to their child, and it is for parents and providers to agree the policy for charging parental fees in the case of absence of the child, for illness and other reasons.