Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

58. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he is taking to ensure that Ukrainian refugees can avail of childcare in an affordable and timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14469/22]

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

My Department has developed a comprehensive action plan to respond to the Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) needs of Ukrainian children and their families.

Key actions include:

- Facilitating access to my Department’s funding schemes – the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) and the National Childcare Scheme (NCS)

- Identifying ELC places available locally and nationally for Ukrainian children

- Proactively engaging with ELC services to explore the scope for any expansion in ELC capacity - with applications to Tusla to increase capacity in ELC services fast tracked, where possible.

- Providing an “ELC matching service” to link Ukrainian children to ELC services.

- Providing information and a host of supports to ELC services to help them meet the needs of Ukrainian children and their families, including training on trauma-informed practice and guidance on how ELC services can support children and families in the context of the conflict in Ukraine.

- Providing information, supports and practical resources to Ukrainian families to support children’s early learning and opportunities for play, including information and Parent and Toddler Groups, designated play areas in temporary accommodation.

To support the implementation of this action plan, my Department has engaged with the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum and is mobilising a range of organisations, including Pobal, Better Start, City/County Childcare Committees, Tusla and the National Voluntary Childcare Organisations. My Department is also engaging with the Department of Education to ensure our approach is aligned, where appropriate, to the approach taken in schools.