Childcare providers say it's impossible to know how many children will be catered for in facilities from next Monday.
Many creches are due to reopen for the summer.
However some are reporting they won't be able to open, or will only have 60 or 70% capacity.
The Oireachtas Covid-19 committee's heard a warning:
Some facilities could have to reduce the number of children they care for.
That's due to extra staffing costs, because of the outbreak.
Nurses with children feel “abandoned” by the State during the #covid19 restrictions, the special Oireachtas Committee hears. It’s focusing on childcare issues all day today @INMO_IRL
— Shane Beatty (@ShaneBeattyNews) June 23, 2020
The Association of Childhood Professionals chairperson, Marian Quinn says providers are under pressure to open next week:
"There's huge expectation on service providers to be open next week and to be available."
"The reality is, there will be services who will still have sustainability issues."
"If their staff aren't eligible under the Wage Subsidy Scheme, the providers will have to find the kind of full level of funding, to pay the wages for those staff members."
Parents Reassured Hygiene Measures Will Be In Place
Parents are being reassured the proper Covid-19 hygiene measures will be in place when creches reopen from Monday.
Around 1,800 childcare facilities are due to open for the summer, although some are remaining closed due to the extra costs associated with the outbreak.
€75 million is being provided to help with wages, health and safety and observing social distancing.
CEO of Early Childhood Ireland Teresa Heeney says there's some apprehension among providers about reopening next week:
"There's uncertainty for parents, for children, for staff."
"But I think there's also a determination, it's professional and regulated."
"So a lot of the practices that are being required due to COVID-19 are run of the mill."
"For a lot of our services they already have a lot of handwashing, cleaning and so on."
