Written answers

Wednesday, 3 February 2021

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Covid-19 Pandemic

Photo of Aodhán Ó RíordáinAodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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467. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a large cohort of parents who are not classed as essential workers by their employer but have been informed by their crèche facilities that they are eligible to access crèche services, as essential workers; if no guidance has been issued to private crèches to refund parents who do not avail of childcare service during level 5; if his attention has been drawn to the financial pressure on parents who have to take parental leave as the result of not being issued an essential worker letter to travel to work (details supplied); if there is a mechanism to support crèches and parents to ensure children do not lose their places and that crèches remain solvent in order to keep their places; the instructions or guidance that has been offered to crèches regarding refunds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5108/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Government decided on 6 January that, in order to reduce movement in the population, the ECCE programme would not resume until 1 February. Other Early Learning and Childcare and School-Age Childcare services (ELC/SAC services) can remain open on a restricted basis, to offer services to the children of essential workers and to vulnerable children only.  It has now been agreed that the programme will remain suspended during extended restrictions up to 5 March. 

Essential workers are those that work in the list of essential services published on gov.ie.  Essential services include categories of services in Agriculture, horticulture, forestry, fishing, animal welfare and related services; Manufacturing; Supply, repair and installation of machinery and equipment; Electricity, gas, water, sewage and waste management; Construction and development; Wholesale and retail trade; Transport, storage and communications;  Accommodation and food services;  Information and communications; Financial and legal activities; Professional, scientific and technical activities; Rental and leasing activities; Administrative and support activities; Public administration, emergency services and defence; Human health and social work activities;  Education; Community and voluntary services; and Diplomatic missions and consular affairs.

One parent who is an essential worker confers eligibility on the child to access a service.  For the purposes of accessing early learning and childcare services, an essential worker may be working from home.

My Department is aware that many providers have already chosen to refund, waive or credit fees for families  not currently using an early learning and childcare services and I have welcomed this.

During the February 1 to March 5 period I have introduced revised and enhanced funding arrangements to support providers and to help address a number of objectives including waiving fees for parents who do not use services; maintaining places for children previously attending; retaining staff in the service; engaging with children not attending the service; and engaging staff in CPD or other planning or administrative activities.  Funding is now structured into standard funding and enhanced funding.

Where a provider has opted to avail of this enhanced funding, they are required to agree to the conditions outlined above.

One element of the enhanced funding is the Covid Support Payment which is available for services that have a high degree of reliance on parental fees.  This payment is subject to providers agreeing not to charge parents who don’t attend.

My Department estimates that the overwhelming majority of providers will be sustainable with these measures. For the small numbers where there are particular challenges, the Sustainability Fund will open a new strand of funding tailored to the present arrangements.

If providers do not access the conditional funding, they may still request fees from parents.  Contract terms between providers and parents may stipulate specific obligations of both parties and I acknowledge that the relationship between a service and parent is a private one based on a contract between those two parties. 

Providers will be able to confirm if they are receiving enhanced funding, and consequently, their fee arrangements. They will also be able to clarify refund or credit arrangements for any pre-paid fees. These arrangements will apply from February 1st to March 5th.

Detailed guidance has issued to providers on these matters and is available at .

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