Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask Deputy McLellan to consider the combined amounts provided in subheads B3 and B4 as they show an overall increase of €3 million for child care. What we are doing is redirecting the funding to the area of greatest demand, namely, the community employment schemes. This is the reason the allocation under subhead B4 has been reduced. The amount in question remains within the child care allocation and will be used to provide the range of child care services to which I referred. The allocation for child care has been increased by €3 million, which should be welcomed, and our focus has shifted to the areas of greatest need. This is the reason certain funding has been reallocated within the two subheads.

Deputy Troy referred to mentoring and training support. It is important to focus on FETAC levels 5 and 6 because we require that child care staff reach these standards. Our objective is to improve standards and training for those currently employed in child care services, more than 3,000 of whom require basic training. For this reason, we chose to focus on this group at this time. Once staff have reached a certain standard and obtained a FETAC qualification, I do not rule out using the training fund for a broader range of training and qualifications. At this point, it is important to achieve our objective of ensuring that child care workers obtain FETAC level 5 and 6 qualifications. Many of those who require these qualifications find it very difficult to pay for the training. Under this programme, they are subsidised to obtain the services they need.

On the mentoring service, we have provided €2.5 million for preschool services. This will involve the recruitment of graduates in early childhood care and education who will work directly with the services to improve quality, including assisting services in the implementation of Síolta and Aistear. It is expected, although agreement has not yet been finalised, that the mentoring service will be administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department. Details should be available in the next few weeks.