Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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187. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if consideration has been given to establishing a national qualification and registration system for all early years professionals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28498/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme introduced the first-ever requirement for minimum qualifications for staff working in the childcare sector. Under the programme, the pre-school leader delivering the programme must hold a qualification in childcare/early education at a minimum of Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (NFQ), or an equivalent nationally-recognised qualification or a higher award in the childcare/early education field. A higher capitation rate is payable to services where all of the pre-school leaders hold a bachelor degree in childhood/early education (minimum of Level 7 on the NFQ) and have three years experience working in the sector, and where all of the pre-school assistants hold a relevant major award in childcare/early education at Level 5 on the NFQ.

I have indicated my intention to increase the qualification requirements for all staff working in pre-school services. The minimum requirement of Level 5 for pre-school leaders delivering the pre-school year will be increased to Level 6. In addition, all pre-school assistants, and all other staff caring for children in a pre-school service, will be subject to a minimum requirement of Level 5. This requirement will be effective from September 2014 for new services, and from September 2015 for existing services. My Department is currently examining measures to support training for childcare staff in line with the increased qualification requirements.

My Department holds information relating to the qualifications of staff currently delivering the pre-school year, and we are examining the possibility of extending this to a national registration system. Given the vast range of childcare qualifications and awarding authorities, including international awarding bodies, this will not be an easy task. However, I agree with the Deputy that a national qualification and registration system for all early years professionals would be useful, and my Department will be liaising with the Early Years Education Unit, which is co-located within my Department, to determine the optimum means of building and maintaining such a register.