Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is aware that there is a cohort of people, some of whom may be lone parents, who are currently studying child care courses up to FETAC level 5. In September of this year, they will no longer be included in the calculation of the ratio of child care workers to children in child care facilities. They are currently included as part of the ratio of workers to childrenvis-à-vis legislative requirements. Where is the logic behind that? I understand that in a written answer to a parliamentary question from my colleague, Deputy Robert Troy, the Department is aware of this and the situation is under review.

I ask the Minister of State to give some indication of the thinking behind this. It goes back again to the central point the Minister of State made. Let us assume that there are some lone parents who have chosen to acquire a skill in child care because generally speaking, the chances of getting work in the sector having acquired such skills are pretty high. Wearing my other hat as chairman of Leitrim county child care committee, I am aware of the difficulties the proposal will present to child care providers from September next. The chances are that those staff who are qualified only up to FETAC level 5 will have to leave the child care facilities in which they are employed because they are on CE schemes and will lose out. I ask the Minister of State to outline his views on this. I do not want to pre-empt any decision to be taken by the Department but wish to take this opportunity to put the issue on the record.