Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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286. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to reports that childcare workers are not being paid when they are excluded from work due to Covid-19 cases in a class and pod; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47205/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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From the outset of Covid-19, my Department has engaged closely with the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre in keeping the sector informed of how to comply with public health guidance. This guidance includes advice for services on how to manage a confirmed case in their service.

As is always the case, the terms and conditions of employment are a matter for the employer and the employee. If the employee is unable to work due to being required to self-isolate, they should be asked to submit a medical certificate confirming that they are medically unfit to return to work.

If the setting's sick leave policy allows for payment for sick leave, then this should be followed and the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) will operate as normal for this staff member. Otherwise the employee should be advised to contact the Department of Social Protection in relation to possible to entitlements to illness benefit.

A series of guidance documents for providers and practitioners operating during the Covid-19 period have been developed by my Department and can be found on the First 5 website at first5.gov.ie/guidance.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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287. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the results of a report (details supplied) whereby 70% of the managers who responded to the survey, found it extremely difficult to recruit staff in the past 12 months; the measures he will carry out to address the impending staffing crisis in the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47246/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I acknowledge that many early learning and care (ELC) and school-age childcare (SAC) services are reporting staffing and recruitment difficulties, with increased pressures as a result of Covid-19. My Department is actively monitoring the issue and has sought data and evidence-based proposals from sectoral representatives.

The primary data-source for the ELC and SAC sector is the Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile. In the most recent published report (the 2019-20 report, published in 2021), 44% of services reported challenges in recruiting suitably qualified staff over the past 12 months. While this figure was down 9% from the previous year, it remains very high. The staff turnover rate has similarly fallen from 23% to 18%, but remains unacceptably high. 

Recruitment and recruitment difficulties in the sector are undoubtedly linked to poor terms and conditions in the workforce, with for example the average pay being €12.45 per hour.

I am very conscious of the need for significant improvement in pay and working conditions for practitioners in ELC and SAC services. The level of pay they receive does not reflect the value of the work they do for children, for families and for the wider society and economy.

As the State does not employ early learning and childcare practitioners, I cannot set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector. My Department has, however, over a number of years provided a range of supports to service providers to enable them to improve wages and working conditions.

I am committed to doing what is in my power to improve wages and working conditions. That is why last December I began a process to examine the possibility of regulating pay and conditions in the sector and the suitability of a Joint Labour Committee (JLC). In agreement with IBEC/Childhood Services Ireland, and SIPTU, I appointed Dr Kevin Duffy, former Chair of the Labour Court, to be the independent chair of this process.

On foot of Dr Duffy’s report, on 11 March I wrote to the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, recommending the establishment of a JLC for the sector.

In line with the provisions of the Industrial Relations Acts, the Labour Court recommended establishment of a JLC, and Minister English accepted the Labour Court’s recommendations. The Establishment Order came into effect at the beginning of July. The JLC will provide an opportunity for unions and employer representatives to work together to determine wages and working conditions for ELC and SAC.

In addition, work on a Workforce Development Plan for ELC and SAC continues, with a final report expected by the end of the year.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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288. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a demand for more childcare places outside of ECCE hours; the steps he is taking to address demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47247/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department closely monitors developments in relation to early learning and childcare capacity. Data is routinely collected from a variety of sources for this purpose. Local Authority level data is captured annually through the Early Years Sector Profile, administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department.  Owing to COVID, capacity data is not available for 2020. Before the onset of Covid-19, national data indicated that, on the whole, supply was meeting demand, with evidence of undersupply for certain age groups, and in certain areas. 

Ensuring that supply is sufficient to meet demand is a policy priority.

A 141% increase in investment over the last number of years has led to a doubling in the number of children receiving free or subsidised early learning and care and school-age childcare. It has also supported the sector to increase the number of places available - by 27,433 places nationally since 2015. New data on capacity was collected in May and June 2021, and is expected to be available in the latter part of the year. This will allow the Department to update our data on capacity at a Local Authority level, which will inform future planning and funding priorities. My Department has also committed to strengthen capacity to accurately forecast supply and demand, by including undertaking a regular national needs assessment. In addition, officials in my Department are planning research on the ELC/SAC needs of parents who work atypical hours or live in rural communities..

First 5: A ten-year whole-of-Government strategy for babies, young children and their families; pledges to build on this progress. Among key strategic actions in First 5 is a commitment to 'maintain and extend the supply of high-quality publicly subsidised ELC and SAC to best serve the developmental needs of babies and young children, ensuring that it also reflects the needs and preferences of parents and families'.

To deliver on this strategic action, a range of actions are under way, including an update of the National Planning Guidelines for the development of early learning and care and school-age childcare settings, the extension of regulation to all paid, non-relative childminders on a phased basis, the development of a strategic capital investment plan to deliver large-scale capital investment under Project 2040 and the development of a new funding model for ELC and SAC.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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289. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way he plans to address flexibility of childcare hours given that flexible working arrangements are being promoted by Government; if he will address the need for greater flexibility in the childcare sector to meet this policy approach and the various new working arrangements parents are taking on board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47248/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The National Childcare Scheme (NCS), which was launched in 2019, is my Department's key funding scheme to support parents with the costs of early learning and childcare.

The NCS has been designed to be flexible, recognising that childcare needs are different for each family. In creating a single, national scheme, it was important to recognise these differences and create a system that could respond to them without affecting Early Learning and Care and School Age service providers.  For this reason, subsidies under the NCS are awarded as an hourly rate, along with a maximum number of hours for which that rate is payable.  The hourly rate of subsidy illustrates to parents their level of subsidy and will not affect service operations..

Parents and providers work together to decide on the amount of childcare that is needed and can be provided.  Providers continue to set their own fees, sessions and admissions policies. The NCS pays subsidies based on the hours of care agreed between the provider and the parent, up to the maximum hours awarded to the parent.

The National Childcare Scheme incorporates rules in relation to circumstances where a child leaves the service, is continuously absent from the service, or is not fully using the agreed place over a prolonged period.  These rules are intended to be child-centred, fair and proportionate, clear and consistent and recognise the need for flexibility for parents.  The rules reflect the realities of family life. They do not disadvantage parents or services for what would be considered minor non-attendances. At the same time, they recognise the need to protect State finances by ensuring that Exchequer funds are used to support the maximum number of families in need of financial support, represent value for money for taxpayers, and are allocated in accordance with robust and appropriate procedures.