Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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183. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when it is expected that ECCE programme is likely to be safely restored in conjunction with best safety practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4880/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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On Tuesday 26 January, Government made the decision to extend the suspension of the ECCE programme and to continue to restrict access to other Early Learning and Childcare services to the children of essential workers and to vulnerable children. It is currently planned for these arrangements to be in place until 5 March, with the timeframe remaining subject to review in the context of the evolving public health circumstances.

The resumption of the ECCE programme has been postponed, and ELC/SAC services will only be open to children of essential workers and vulnerable children, in order to minimise the movement of people at a time of significantly elevated levels of infection of Covid-19 in the community.

Public health experts have confirmed that ELC/SAC services may continue to operate during the current Level 5 restrictions. Public health advice which was prepared specifically for ELC/SAC services provides detailed guidance on how services can significantly reduce their risk level. Incidence of Covid-19 positive cases in children 12 and under remains significantly lower than the population at large.