merrion street

Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, Roderic O’Gorman T.D., today 21 July welcomed the continuing increase in the number of childcare services which have reopened since 29 June 2020.  1, 540 childcare centres have now reopened, which is 85% of the 1, 800 services which are normally open in July and August.

There were 4, 500 childcare services operational before the Covid closure of the sector, and already more than 70% of this total have confirmed that they will be open in September, through their application for a reopening grant.  The Minister expects this figure to increase significantly as services have another five weeks to apply for the reopening grant.