Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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1064. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the guidelines in relation to informal childcare arrangements during the current lockdown for when primary school finishes in the early afternoon and a childminder is available to assist in which parents are working full-time; if these arrangements are permitted during March 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14039/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The well-being, health and safety of children, their families and those working in the sector is a priority for my Department. A dedicated web-page was developed to provide guidance during the Covid-19 pandemic for parents and service providers on the reopening, operating and use of early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services including all childminders.

Guidance is based on the latest public health advice available from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in the HSE, which has been approved by the Expert Advisory Group of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). The public health advice is subject to ongoing review/updating by the HPSC. If the public health advice changes, the guidance documents on the web-page change accordingly. Every ELC and SAC setting is different and service providers including childminders will need to use their professional judgement in determining how best to comply with the public health advice while ensuring high quality practice to support children’s well-being, learning and development.

Childminders are allowed to remain open for the care of vulnerable children and the children of essential workers until 28 March.  From 29 March childminders can operate for all children without restriction of eligibility.