Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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398. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the most up-to-date guidelines currently available to childcare providers; when new guidelines in relation to the isolation of children with Covid-19-like symptoms will be issued in view of the roll-out of the vaccination programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35003/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Expert guidance on the safe operation of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) services during the COVID-19 pandemic was published by the HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) in May 2020 and has been updated on a number of occasions since then, most recently on 25 June 2021. The latest version of the guidance was circulated to all registered providers on 29 June 2021. The guidance is available at

The HSE, in conjunction with my Department, is keeping this guidance under review and will update as appropriate.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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399. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when the new childcare funding model currently in development will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35004/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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One of the major objectives of First 5, a Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families 2019-2028is that babies and young children have access to safe, high-quality, developmentally appropriate Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Care (SAC) which reflects diversity of need. Allied to that objective, First 5identifies as a key building block additional public funding, strategically invested, to achieve the best outcomes for babies, young children and their families. First 5commits to at least doubling investment in ELC and SAC between 2018 and 2028 and a new Funding Model will be a key vehicle to ensure that such significant additional investment delivers for children, families and the State.

An Expert Group has been convened by my Department to develop a new Funding Model for Early Learning and Childcare. The Expert Group is tasked with examining the current model of funding, its effectiveness in delivering quality, affordable, sustainable and inclusive services and considering how additional resourcing can be delivered for the sector to achieve these objectives, drawing on international practice in this area.

The Expert Group have met seventeen times to date, most recently on 23 June, and a report on their recommendations is expected to be submitted to me in November 2021 for consideration. Included in the scope of the Group's Terms of Reference are implementation considerations, including the appropriate timing and phasing of the approach, ensuring the sustainability of the sector, accountability for public funding, and the technical and operational feasibility of the new funding model.

Implementation of the Group's recommendations will be dependent on budgetary decisions, and funding is likely to become available on an incremental basis. The full implementation of the Expert Group's recommendations is therefore likely to be a multi-annual process. In the short term, I anticipate that the Group’s recommendations will contribute to informing the Budget 2022 process and my officials are already engaged in that process.

The Programme for Government commits to implementing First 5, including the planned increase in investment over a number of years, and the new funding model will enable that increased investment to deliver the types of services that align with national policy objectives, resourcing quality provision and requiring affordability for participation in the new model.

Further detail on the work of the Expert Group and documentation related to the process is available at first5fundingmodel.gov.ie/