‘Creches need access to paid tests to prove they are safe’

A CALL has been made for creches and preschools to be given access to paid testing, so operators can reassure parents and staff that their services are free from Covid-19.

Early Childhood Ireland chief executive Teresa Heeney also echoed calls made by creche providers in recent days for vaccination priority to be given to childcare workers.

She said it was hard to know how many providers would reo

‘Complicated and extensive’

pen yesterday, but she estimated it would be around 1,000, and that they would take between 20% and 50% of their usual number of children.

Ms Heeney told RTÉ that it was a tough balancing act to figure out how to reopen safely, because providers need to meet the needs of the parents, children and staff.

She said the prioritisation of families was ‘very, very difficult’ and that Early Childhood Ireland is hoping that a refinement of the essential worker list will be given soon.

Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman said the list of essential workers was a ‘complicated and extensive one’, but asked childcare providers to heed it.

He said it would not be beneficial to create a separate list for the childcare sector, and would only create more confusion.

Elaine Dunne, chairwoman of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers, has said her members wanted a shorter list, to help them prioritise to whom who to give childcare.

She added that childcare providers had turned to private tests to protect their staff and children, but said she believed the testing should be offered and funded by the Government.