Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

387. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if special provision is being made to support those forced into absences from work due to caring for children contracting Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59866/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department provides a suite of income supports for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability. It is important to note that entitlement to these supports is generally not contingent on the nature of the illness or disability but on the extent to which a particular illness or disability impairs or restricts a person’s capacity to work. This Department spent a total of €4.7 billion on illness, disability and caring payments in 2020.

In March of last year, under the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020 (No. 1) and subsequent regulations, the Government provided for entitlement to Illness Benefit for persons who have been diagnosed with Covid-19 or are a probable source of infection with Covid-19.

The rate of payment of this enhanced Illness Benefit payment in respect of Covid-19 is higher than the normal maximum personal rate for a limited period. This enhanced benefit is payable for 2 weeks where a person is isolating as a probable source of infection of Covid-19 and up to 10 weeks where a person has been diagnosed with Covid-19.

The measures were designed to ensure that where a registered medical practitioner or a HSE medical officer diagnoses a person with Covid-19 or identifies them as a probable source of infection of Covid-19, the person can comply with medical advice to isolate, while having their income protected. This is essential to limit the spread of the virus, to keep the number of people affected to a minimum, and hence to avoid extreme pressure on the health system.

In a case where a person continues to be ill beyond 10 weeks, standard Illness Benefit may be paid for an extended period, based on the person’s continued eligibility. Illness Benefit is the primary income support payment for people who are unable to attend work due to illness of any type and who are covered by Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions. Illness Benefit is payable for up to two years, depending on satisfying the eligibility conditions. Additional payments may be made in respect of a qualified adult and qualifying children.

Apart from these income supports, my Department also provides means tested supports under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme for people who are ill but who do not qualify for Illness Benefit. The Department may also make an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet from their weekly income.

My Department keeps the range of income supports under review in order to make sure they meet their objectives. Any changes to the current system would need to be considered in an overall policy and budgetary context.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

388. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the rules for face masks for primary school children apply to afterschools; when guidelines on face masks will be available to the childcare and afterschool sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60368/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Throughout the course of the pandemic, very few outbreaks of Covid-19 have been detected in early learning and care (ELC) or school-age childcare (SAC) settings. In the current stage of the pandemic, we are experiencing a high incidence rate of Covid-19 in children aged 5-12 years. It is often difficult to detect Covid-19 outbreaks in ELC/SAC or school settings due to the relative lack of symptoms in children, and therefore asymptomatic spread of Covid-19 may be occurring in these settings. In order to try and reduce transmission among these age groups and among ELC/SAC sector and school staff, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and the Government issued Interim Guidance on the use of face coverings in Childcare and Educational Settings on 30^thNovember 2021.

This latest advice recommends the wearing of face masks/coverings in children in the following situations:

- Children aged 9 years and over on public transport, in retail and other indoor public settings, with exemptions as appropriate

- Children in third class and above in primary educational settings

- In certain situations, the use of clear visors should be considered, for example staff interacting with children with hearing difficulties or learning difficulties. However, it is accepted that visors are less effective than face-coverings in preventing transmission.

A memo was issued by my Department on 2nd December to ELC and SAC providers, including childminders, based on the updated advice published on 30^thNovember. The memo noted that:

- At this point in time, there is no change in the public health guidance on adults wearing masks in ELC/SAC settings: staff members, parents and visitors should all wear face masks/coverings when not caring for children and where social distancing is not possible.

- In line with the Interim Guidance issued on 30^thNovember, it has been advised that children 9 years of age and older should wear face masks/coverings when it does not interfere with their care and active engagement.

- On this basis, the use of face masks/coverings for children 9 years of age and older in ELC/SAC settings is not mandatory but advised. Therefore, settings will have to use their professional judgement in relation to operationalising the guidance in consultation with parents.

- During transport to and from ELC and SAC services, face masks/coverings should be worn by children over 9 years of age where this is not a barrier to communication with the driver or those caring for them.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has stated that cloth face coverings should notbe worn by any of the following groups:

- Children aged less than 9 years of age in primary educational settings or pre-school.

- Any person with difficulty breathing or other relevant medical conditions.

- Any person who is unconscious or incapacitated.

- Any person who is unable to remove the face-covering without assistance.

- Any person who has special needs and who may feel upset or very uncomfortable wearing the face covering, for example persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities, mental health conditions, sensory concerns or tactile sensitivity.