Reopening Updates for Childcare Service Providers 02/07/2020

Reopening Support Payment (RSP) Application Process

The application form for the Reopening Support Payment (RSP) will be available on the Early Years Platform (HIVE) from 9am on Friday 3rd July 2020.  All services must have an account set up on HIVE and will need to use their username and password to log in and access the form.

This is a one-off payment to ELC and SAC providers to support them in meeting the reopening guidelines, to support children to remain in ‘play pods’ to reduce the potential for COVID-19 to spread, and to meet additional staffing needs during the reopening period.  RSP is provided in recognition of the fact that a reduced number of children are likely to attend ELC and SAC services in the initial weeks of reopening.

The amount of funding available to each ELC and SAC service is based on the number of individual children registered on Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) schemes in the service as of 12 March 2020.   Services that open on a fulltime basis and are open for 6 of the 8 weeks between 29 June and 23 August 2020 will be eligible to receive a higher grant than services operating part-time hours or which reopen in late August or September.

Where a service is in receipt of or are due to receive a Covid -19 Restart Grant from their local authority, the amount of the Covid -19 Re-start Grant must be declared as part of the RSP application process and will be offset against RSP.

Applicant Guidelines are available to assist you in making an application. Please ensure you are happy with all the information on your application before submitting. Applications cannot be changed once submitted.

The closing date for applications is 5pm, Friday 28th August.

If you have any queries, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre at eypc@pobal.ie or raise a service request on the Early Years Hive.

Updated FAQs v2 on the Reopening Funding Package for Childcare Services

Dear providers,

Please find attached version 2 of the FAQs on the Reopening Funding Package for Childcare Services. This is an update to the FAQs we circulated on 12 June. We have added additional clarifications in response to questions we have received from you and your representative organisations.

The attached FAQs are intended to provide clarity on how this funding package will work. These FAQs aim to be informative but may be added to and/or amended again as more information becomes available. The Department will also continue keeping track of any queries we receive and clarify any remaining areas of uncertainty in another update if necessary. Any future updates will also be circulated, with the changes that have been made highlighted.

As always, your local CCCs will be available to offer support. Please do not hesitate to contact them if you require assistance with interpreting or applying for any element of the new funding package.

Kind regards,

Early Years Division.
DCYA.

Early Years Hive Schedule Maintenance

The Early Years Hive will be unavailable today, Thursday 2nd July, for a maximum of 3 hours between 6pm and 9pm due to scheduled maintenance.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your cooperation.

Thank you,
Early Years Team