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NEW EMERGENCY COVID-19 measures mean that parents will not have to pay their provider for childcare they are not receiving.
Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone has confirmed the Department of Children and Youth Affairs is to pay childcare providers with a proportion of staff costs during the closure period during the coronavirus crisis.
This is on the condition that providers do not charge parents for a service they cannot provide.
Following the announcement of emergency measures which included movement restrictions and the closure of businesses, there had been reports that some creches were continuing to charge parents despite not providing any childcare service.
There were also reports from parents that they were informed if they did not keep up with the payments, their child’s place could not be guaranteed after the public health crisis is over.
Giving further details on the new emergency measures, the minister said they will apply for up to 12 weeks in line with the Government’s announcement yesterday and “reflect the unique challenges and demands facing the sector”.
As part of the new initiative, Revenue will reimburse childcare employers by 70% of their pre-Covid-19 staff costs.
In addition, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs will reimburse childcare employers with 30% of their pre-Covid-19 staff costs.
The department will also pay a retention top-up designed to retain staff in the sector.
In order to avail of the supports, childcare providers will be required to sign a new Covid-19 Emergency Agreement.
This will require providers to agree to a number of conditions, including:
Staff will also have to use this time for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and other professional activities, while employers will use this time to catch up on administrative tasks and familiarise themselves further with the National Childcare Scheme (NCS).
The childcare providers will also have to provide Revenue with evidence of staff costs to so the payments can be provided.
Zappone said she hopes the new supports will provide parents with a reassurance that they are not required to pay childcare fees during this Covid crisis, while providing them with reassurance that they will maintain their childcare places.
It is understood the package of measures was argued for by Zappone who took issue with the financial package being discussed at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
Zappone stressed that these are emergency measures that will apply for up to 12 weeks, something that was reiterated by the Taoiseach today.
“Most parents would acknowledge if they receive a service such as childcare that they should make a contribution towards that,” she said, signalling that parents will have to revert to paying large amounts of money for childcare after the Covid-19 crisis.
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Like what other option do you have with some people who are violent to the extent they can’t be around people… Is doping them out of there head non stop any better
As long as you are aware that the prescribed psychoactive drugs they pump into people can also increase the risk of violence. Here is a forensic Psychaitrist from Australia.
Adverse Reactions to Psychiatric Drugs: Yolande Lucire MBBS, Peter Breggin MD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEoSs6Yo0DA
Prof David Healy and Dr Peter Breggin also do great work in getting the truth out about these drugs.
This is seriously unfair and insulting to psychiatric nurses, a profession which has many wonderful, hard-working people.
Restraining is for everyone’s safety. Bonkers attitude
More shit from people completely put of touch with the reality, this would be fantastic if psychiatric nurses didn’t have to restrain seclude or even medicate at that, but unfortunately we live in reality where sometimes people with mental health issuers are aggressive and violent, as long as this happens restraint and seclusion will be a necessity, the alternative is high doses of sedatives ??? Which would you choose
The mental health commission obviously dont have a clue what they are talking about!
Its the same in nursing homes we recently had an issue with my mother after a fall..not her first..and were told she couldn’t be strapped into a chair because its too restricting even though it would be for her own safety.
Isn’t it important to look at if restraint actually works/helps people recover? It should be a last resort. This blog from someone on the damage restraint did to her is interesting: http://www.mind.org.uk/blog/9010_i_needed_help_not_harm?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social+media&utm_campaign=Restraint
have your say