Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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323. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if she will consider a scheme to financially support early years childcare workers (details supplied) that do not get paid for their holidays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21747/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the State does not employ staff in Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services, neither I nor my Department set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector.

Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare services are private businesses and their policies on operating hours and staffing are a matter for the service provider. As such, the decision to close a service during holiday periods, e.g. over the summer, lies with the service provider.

Social welfare entitlements fall outside the remit of my Department and are a matter for my colleagues at the Department of Social Protection.

However, I understand that the Department of Social Protection operate a system where those who are employed across the various educational sectors are supported in making their application to allow a for a more efficient processing of their claim when the period of unemployment arises.