Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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660. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the contact she has had with the relevant authorities who provide the training for child care sector; if she is satisfied that the courses are fit for purpose and that relevant qualified personnel are tutors on these courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36661/13]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The quality assurance of the Further Education system in Ireland is the responsibility of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), a recently established body drawn from the merging of the Further Education Training Awards Council, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland and the Irish Universities Quality Board.

In 2011, Common Award Standards in Early Childhood Care and Education were developed and published at Levels 4, 5 and 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications.   Since December 2012, only the new Common Award Standards in ECCE will be accredited by QQI .   Programmes of learning developed to meet these award standards incorporate national practice frameworks and reflect national policy objectives, thereby ensuring that graduates of these programmes are fully prepared to enter the workforce.  The Common Award Standards promote consistency in quality, content and delivery of programmes of learning.

The Deputy may also be aware that teachers/tutors in receipt of State funding have to be registered with the Teaching Council and comply with the Council’s requirements for registration. 

If there are issues around courses leading to accredited qualifications on the NFQ, I am satisfied that they are dealt with by the appropriate authority.