Fianna Fáil Spokesperson for Children and Youth Affairs Anne Rabbitte TD has described as disappointing the latest measures announced by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
Deputy Rabbitte’s comments come after the Department published its FAQ on Monday detailing how it will operate its Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (WSCS), which is being run in addition to Revenue’s COVID-19 Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.
Deputy Rabbitte commented: “The Department’s new scheme is very disappointing for childcare providers. While it addresses the issue of staff wages, the measures exclude the considerable number of childcare providers who are either sole traders or whose owner/ managers are working directors who may not take a regular salary from their creche.
“As ECCE funding is being suspended, the measures significantly reduce the funding available to many creches and would likely exclude certain smaller creches from accessing funding at all. This has the potential to decimate the sector and could leave parents searching for a new crèche in a few months’ time.
“The childcare sector was already under great strain and numerous providers have been in touch in recent days to voice their concern and rejection of these new measures. Providers feel like this has been thrust upon them and it’s left them in a very precarious position. I was told of 15 creches that decided to close their doors yesterday as they cannot continue to support their staff under this new scheme.
“I’ve written to both the Department of Finance and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs offering a number of potential solutions, but the two departments appear to have different views on what needs to be done. This incompatibility is risky,” concluded Deputy Rabbitte.
