Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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912. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the situations in which childcare providers can refuse to provide specific care for children (details supplied). [12741/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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Early learning and care (ELC) and school aged childcare (SAC) services are provided by private enterprises, either privately owned or operated by community organisations. While service providers are contracted by my Department to provide services at a subsidised rate to parents they are free to set their own policies having regard to scheme rules and legal obligations.

Under the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 and the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Registration of School Age Services) Regulations 2018, all early years services are required to have in place a policy on administration of medication. This policy should be available to all parents or guardians of children attending the service.

My Department funds a national network of County Childcare Committees (CCCs) who provide support and advice to parents and childcare providers. Any parents who have concerns around any aspect of childcare can contact their local CCC. The contact details for the CCCs can be found on www.myccc.ie.