Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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158. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has considered updating the application criteria for the Covid-19 operating support payment to ensure as many providers as necessary can avail of these supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12301/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Covid-19 Operating Support Payment (COSP) is a short-term, temporary sustainability support that was initially available for the period 1 February to 5 March, and has now been extended to 26 March. It is intended to support early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services that are very reliant on parental fees to remain sustainable during the period of high level Covid-19 restrictions, while meeting the condition of not charging fees for families whose children are not attending the service during this period of restricted opening. It is not intended to replace foregone parental fees.

Given the very short time-period for which it will apply, the COSP was designed to support ease of administration, with a very simple application process. Eligibility for the COSP was determined on the basis of transparent, objective criteria, which were selected on the basis that they were likely to identify those services that are most reliant on parental fees.

The criteria reflect the continued availability of the enhanced Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) rates (which are estimated to meet 80% of payroll costs or 50% of operating costs), up to 100% continued funding of schemes operated by my Department, and receipt of parental fees for children attending services that are open. Closed services have reduced operating costs.

I acknowledge that some services that are reliant on parental fees may not meet the criteria – it is open to such services to apply for sustainability funding if the service has sustainability concerns as a result of the current restrictions. On 26 February my Department announced the details of the Covid-19 Impact Support, which will be available throughout 2021 for eligible ELC and SAC services that require further financial assistance in addition to current support measures available and others that may be announced throughout the year. The application process for COVID-19 Impact Support began on Monday 1 March.