Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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550. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when his Department will issue guidance with regard to symptomatic children in childcare; if he has engaged with general practitioners regarding their role in certifying children to return to childcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17030/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Expert guidance on the safe reopening of childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May. The HPSC guidance sets out the steps to be taken by childcare services where a child is suspected of having symptoms of Covid-19 while in the service i.e. the child should be isolated from other children, their parent/s should be contacted and asked to collect them and the parent should be advised to contact their GP. The guidance is also clear that parents should be advised to not bring children to the service if they have symptoms of Covid-19.

The HPSC guidance does not require services to seek a medical certificate for children suspected of having Covid-19 in order for the child to return to the service. Officials in my Department have become aware of some confusion about this among services. The HPSC guidance is currently being updated to provide further clarity on this matter.

Following engagement with General Practitioners the HPSC have advised that requiring assurances/certification from medical practitioners prior to attendance at childcare or prior to return to childcare after an absence is not appropriate as it places unnecessary demand on the healthcare system and there is no reason to expect it to increase the safety of childcare services. Any process of medical certification in this context will, of necessity, relate to the child’s condition one or more days before attendance for childcare and the child’s condition may have changed in the interim.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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551. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of childcare facilities that have applied for Covid-19 related funding by county; the number of successful applications for each county; the funding granted to childcare facilities in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17031/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of childcare facilities from 29 June, which includes two Covid-19 funding programmes for services which are reopening, the Reopening Support Payment, and the Covid-19 Re-opening capital grant, in addition to the resumption of DCYA funding programmes and a continuation of the TWSS.

Figures are set out below for the reopening support payments and the capital grants, on a county basis.

Re-opening Support Payment, details as of 17 July 2020.

The number of childcare facilities that have applied for the Covid-19 Capital Grant, the number of successful applications and the funding granted per county are:

There are still a number of applications at draft stage which applicants have not yet submitted. The details above lists those submitted, approved and paid as at 17/07/2020.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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552. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the details of his plans for the establishment of childcare Ireland as outlined in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17045/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Under the Programme for Government, there is a commitment to establish a dedicated agency, Childcare Ireland. The Government envisages that Childcare Ireland will assist in expanding high quality childcare, best practice and innovation in community and private childcare settings.

In 'First Five, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families', published in November 2018, my Department committed to complete a review of the operating model for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) in this country.

The existing operating model operates across many levels, and includes organisations such as Pobal, 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), and 7 National Voluntary Childcare Organisations (NVCOs) which are funded by my Department to carry out a range of administrative, operational, communications, and quality improvement and training functions in relation to ELC and SAC services.

The ultimate objective of the proposed review is to ensure the operating system is equipped to implement Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) policy to the standards required. It is hoped that the final system will support high quality, accessible and affordable ELC and SAC services to children and families through the efficient and effective administration of a number of programmes, schemes, quality initiatives, and other functions such a compliance and communications. The operating model resulting from the review should better support service providers, operate transparently and accountably, provide value for money to the Exchequer and demonstrate good governance. The model would enable appropriate linkages and effective working relationships with all other agencies and Departments charged with delivering better outcomes for children and families.

My Department hopes to begin work on the review shortly and will engage with all relevant stakeholders during the process. It is envisaged that the analysis carried out through the review will ultimately provide a robust evidence base to inform a decision by Government on how best to establish Childcare Ireland.

Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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553. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there is a policy by which children cannot attend crèches if their temperature is above a certain level; if they must stay away from the crèche for a duration of time as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17228/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Expert guidance on the safe reopening of childcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) on Friday, 29 May. The HPSC guidance clearly states that parents should be advised not to bring their child to the service if they are displaying any of the symptoms of Covid-19 (including high temperature, cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing). In line with HSE guidance, any individual displaying symptoms of Covid-19 should self-isolate immediately and contact their GP. The GP will advise them as to whether testing is required and what steps they should take, including if and when a child may return to an early learning and care or school-age childcare service.

The HPSC guidance also sets out the steps to be taken by childcare services where a child is suspected of having symptoms of Covid-19 (such as a high temperature) while in the service i.e. the child should be isolated from other children, their parent/s should be contacted and asked to collect them and the parent should be advised to contact their GP for further advice. If the child tests positive for Covid-19 the local public health department will make contact with the service and with any close contacts in order to advise them on what steps they need to take.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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555. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the proposals in place to provide new childcare places in view of some childcare facilities closing and the pressure on childcare places in many parts of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17450/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Services which intend to close must notify the childcare regulator, Tusla. The most recent available data shows that 68 services notified their closure to Tusla year to date, while 17 new services have notified their intent to open a new service. Between January and July 2019, 92 services had indicated their intention to close, so this year’s figures reflect fewer closures than had been indicated.

Experience over the past five years is that that services which close are replaced by new services or by extra places in existing services. The average service has grown in size from 33 children to 47 children. Capacity in the sector has grown year on year for the last 5 years, with a total increase of 60%.

The early learning and care sector reopened on 29 June. Already 80% of the number of services which operated in the summer of 2019 have reopened. My Department is not aware of pressure for childcare places in any specific parts of the country.

If a parent needs assistance in finding a place for their child, they can approach their local CCC for advice on childcare options in their area, including childminders. Contact details of all CCCs can be found on www.myccc.ie.

Cormac Devlin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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556. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the procedures being taken to cease the closure of playgroups across Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17428/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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A key policy priority for my Department is the sustainability of the ELC and SAC sector and it has and continues to work intensively to support services to reopen after COVID-19.

On 10 June 2020, my Department announced a major funding package to facilitate the reopening of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services over the summer months. 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 resumed from 29 June. I am pleased that Government 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 initial reopening funding package aimed to support providers in the initial phase of reopening (from 29 June to 23 August), staff to remain in the sector, parents to resume work, and children to benefit from quality ELC and SAC.

I am now working intensively on a funding package to support the sector for the period beyond 24 August and for the remainder of the year. My officials are working closely with representatives of the sector through the Advisory Group on Reopening to develop an effective and efficient support package, which will be communicated at the earliest opportunity.

It should be noted that a number of supports were available before the COVID-19 pandemic to improve the sustainability of services during normal times, and these remain available now. The Department oversees a Case Management process through which local CCCs and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to early learning and care services experiencing difficulties. Financial supports, which are also accessed through Case Management, are available for community services presenting with sustainability issues following a financial assessment by Pobal. Pobal co-ordinate the overall case management process with the CCC administering initial, and on-going, case management assistance. All services who require support should contact their local CCC in the first instance.