Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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48. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if childcare providers have been given adequate support to reopen and manage the safe return of children (details supplied); the number of childcare providers that have not reopened since closing due to Covid-19; the number of childcare providers operating on reduced hours; and the number operating at reduced capacity. [22360/20]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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On 10 June 2020, my Department announced a €75m package of funding 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 were able to resume from 29th June, 2020.

The new funding package contains a number of significant elements including a once-off reopening support payment (RSP), a once-off COVID-19 capital grant and continued access for eligible providers to the Revenue-operated Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS).

In addition to these supports, all ELC and SAC funding schemes administered by my Department resumed on 29 June.

My Department has made a significant range of online resources and guidance available to support service providers, practitioners and parents to prepare for the safe reopening of ELC and SAC settings, including childminders. All of these resources are available in the Guidance for Reopening webpage on the First 5 website.

It is normal for some Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services to close throughout the year.

Services intending to close must notify the childcare regulator, Tusla. The most recent available data shows that 123 services notified their closure to Tusla for the period to 21 August 2020, while 39 new services notified their intent to open in the same period. The number of services closing this year to date is actually slightly lower than the same time last year. 200 services closed in 2019 and 150 closed in both 2017 and 2018.

Services close for many reasons. A significant proportion of childcare services operate from the homes of childcare providers, and when these providers choose to retire, onward sale of the business can be very restricted. Others close for career or financial reasons.

For the 2020-21 programme year, 4,068 ELC and SAC services have already signed a childcare Funding Agreement with my Department and are open or intend to open in this programme year. This is already over 90% of last year’s numbers. I anticipate that additional services will sign Funding Agreements over the coming weeks.

My Department does not have the full data available on the number of services operating on reduced hours or at reduced capacity however my Department is not aware of any significant unmet need for early learning and childcare places since services began to reopen on 29 June. If a parent is having difficulty in finding a place for their child, they should contact their local Childcare Committee for advice on childcare options in their area. Details can be found on myccc.ie

I am committed to continuing to work with the City and County Childcare Committees and representatives of providers to address any issues which may arise in the coming months.