The Big Picture 15 April 2020

Aside from our extensive engagements with DCYA where Early Childhood Ireland sought to influence the design and rollout of the Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (WSCS), we have also been active on the political front seeking to engage with key decision makers across the various Parties.

The Dáil has been meeting very infrequently since the restrictions on movement due to Covid-19. As a result, there has been very limited opportunity for TDs to put questions to Ministers. It was however announced last week that there would be an opportunity for TDs to submit questions on matters related to Covid-19 for answer this week. We have been in regular contact with politicians and party spokespeople from the various political parties to keep them abreast of developments in our sector since settings were closed on 12 March.

As members know, Early Childhood Ireland sought your feedback following the publication of the initial FAQ document on the WSCS by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA). We received hundreds of questions in response to this call for feedback and we collated and submitted these to the DCYA

In devising our Parliamentary Questions (PQs) last week, we focussed on the areas about which members had the highest number of queries. These were about the taxation, PRSI and holiday pay implications of signing up to the new scheme. Early Childhood Ireland is also keen to understand how the DCYA arrived at the figure of 15% of staff costs being considered sufficient to cover overheads. We have been informed that this figure is based on the unpublished “Independent Review of Cost of Delivering Childcare in Ireland” report that was prepared for the Department. We have sought the immediate publication of this report and an explanation of how the figure of 15% was calculated. In addition to this, we are also seeking information on the number of early years workers who initially signed up for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, but who were subsequently brought back into employment as part of the WSCS scheme. The delays in the rollout of the scheme have caused a great deal of confusion, stress and upset for our members and we are seeking clarity on the number of people affected.

Early Childhood Ireland also asked for the full estimated cost to the exchequer if 100% of services sign up to the WSCS Scheme and then this figure, falling in increments of 5% sign-up rate to 50%. The reason we have sought this is to ensure we have information to be able to challenge the government if they propose any changes to the pre-Covid funding models based on cost reduction.

Finally, we have sought information on the proposals for a childcare scheme for frontline workers and how this would operate in practice. We wish to see clarity on the insurance issue for those who wish to participate, information on who would actually be the employer for the duration of the scheme and the steps that would be taken to minimise risk to children and workers.

Our questions were submitted to the main Opposition spokespeople on Children & Youth Affairs: Deputy Anne Rabbitte, Fianna Fáil; Deputy Kathleen Funchion, Sinn Féin and Deputy Jennifer Whitmore, Social Democrats. The PQs are due to be answered by the end of this week and Early Childhood Ireland will of course share any replies received as soon as possible with our members.