Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

928. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the FETAC Level 6 qualification will be awarded, based on experience, to preschool teachers nearing retirement with two to four years left until retirement age in the school year 2015-16, when they will be required to hold the FETAC level 6 qualification and who will not be updating their qualifications; and if not, if child-care centres will be provided with the means to offer redundancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13398/14]

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

The new qualification requirements are based on international evidence that says that increasing the qualification levels of staff in childcare increases the quality of childcare services and therefore improves the outcomes for children. However, I recognise that for staff who are planning to retire in the near future, it is not practical to commence a course at this stage. In these circumstances, I propose to exempt staff who intend to retire in the next 7 years (i.e. by September 2022) from the qualification requirements. A process of registration will be available later in the year to ensure that from September 2016, staff have an appropriate document confirming their exemption.

As my Department does not pay salaries in the childcare sector, it would not pay or contribute to redundancy payments, however they arise.