Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 642: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of the fact that the workforce development plan cites access to flexible, affordable and nationally accredited learning opportunities at all levels of qualification for pre-service and in-service professional development as a key area of the plan, the progress being made with regard to making higher level qualifications more affordable and accessible to the early childhood workforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11363/12]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Access to flexible, affordable and nationally accredited learning opportunities at all levels of qualification for pre-service and in-service professional development is, as the Deputy points out, a key area of the Workforce Development Plan for the Early Childhood Care and Education sector. The initiatives under way to provide flexible learning opportunities include an on-line course which is being delivered by Early Childhood Ireland and which is subsidised for learners and a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme which is being delivered by Whitehall College in Dublin. This RPL programme is also subsidised for learners.

Both programmes are accredited on the National Framework of Qualifications.