Written answers

Wednesday, 15 September 2021

Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Childcare Services

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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501. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the estimated cost of recruiting 12 additional full-time childminding development officers in tabular form. [43403/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department recruited a National Childminding Coordinator in 2019, who put in place a team of 6 Childminding Development Officers within City and County Childcare Committees around the country, with a regional remit. The Officers work with all 30 City and County Childcare Committees to prepare the childminding sector for the move towards wider regulation and support, and in the immediate term to help childminders to engage with current supports (such as the Childminding Development Grant) and to meet Tusla registration requirements, thus enabling more childminders to take part in the National Childcare Scheme. The cost of these posts is in the region of €400,000 per annum, which includes costs for salaries, PRSI, travel and subsistence, and overheads.

The cost of recruiting 12 additional full-time Childminding Development Officers would be in the region of an additional €800,000 per annum.

Photo of Jennifer Carroll MacNeillJennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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502. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the current status of afterschool childcare and the way restrictions will apply to such childcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43676/21]

Photo of Roderic O'GormanRoderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age childcare (SAC) services are permitted to operate in line with the public health guidance for the sector.

Sector-specific public health guidance for ELC and SAC services operating during the pandemic was published in May 2020 by the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) and has been updated on a number of occasions since, with the latest version published on 30August 2021. The guidance is available at www.hpsc.ie/a-z/lifestages/childcare/

Please note that this guidance is expert advice published by the HSE and based on the latest evidence available in relation to Covid-19. The guidance is kept under review by the HSE and my Department and is updated in line with the latest public health advice.

In relation to the operation of both ELC and SAC services that are located on school premises, my Department regularly engages with colleagues in the Department of Education. The Department of Education encourage schools to facilitate requests for the provision of such services where possible, though priority must be given to the interests of the schools, teachers and pupils. It is also important to note that schools are run by their Board of Management and so the decision on whether or not to facilitate SAC or ELC services on the premises ultimately lies with the Board of Management.

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